Andrew Sullivan, Gay Conservative, Points to Gender Identity Activism as Cause for a Decline in Support for the LGBT Community

NEWS

Andrew Sullivan is a gay man and a political commentator who may generally be consider “center-right.” In a New York Magazine article “The Democratic Candidates Are in a Bubble on Immigration,” he comments on a recent major drop in support for the LGBT community.

I wondered when this would happen. How long would it take, I asked, before a younger generation revolted against the new left orthodoxy that there is no sex binary, or gender binary, or indeed any place for biology in understanding the differences between men and women? How long before boys rebelled against the notion that their sex is actively toxic and in need of psychotherapy? Or how long before girls felt violated or just uncomfortable seeing people of the opposite biological sex in their bathrooms, locker rooms, and showers? How many are miffed that they have to compete with biological males in athletic contests?

New data suggests that that time could be now. For the first time, we’re seeing a sharp drop in tolerance of “LGBTQ” people among the younger generation. This is an entirely new phenomenon. It used to be the young that spearheaded toleration and inclusion. Now they’re suddenly bolting in the opposite direction: “The number of Americans 18 to 34 who are comfortable interacting with LGBTQ people slipped from 53 percent in 2017 to 45 percent in 2018 — the only age group to show a decline,” according to the annual [GLAAD] Accelerating Acceptance report. And that is down from 63 percent in 2016. (Perhaps they should rename the report Decelerating Acceptance.) “36 percent of young people said they were uncomfortable learning a family member was LGBTQ in 2018, compared with 29 percent in 2017, and 24 percent in 2016. 34 percent were uncomfortable learning their doctor was LGBTQ vs. 27 percent a year earlier. 39 percent were uncomfortable learning their child had a school lesson on LGBTQ history vs. 30 percent in 2017.”

Or check this out: 62 percent of young men regarded themselves as “allies” of LGBTQ people in 2016; only 35 percent now say the same — a near-halving of support. Women “allies” have dropped from 65 to 52 percent. The turn began in the year that the Obama administration — with no public discussion or congressional support — imposed critical gender theory on America’s high schools, determining sex to be whatever a student says it is. The imposition of trans ideology by fiat on the entire country’s young — along with severe public stigma for those with even the slightest questions — was almost textbook left authoritarianism. Well meant, perhaps. But dictatorial.

Sullivan is representative of some gay men, bisexuals, and lesbians who no longer see any commonality with current trans activism:

We could ask about gay rights and about trans rights separately — because they are very, very different experiences. That way, we could better understand what’s going on.

And:

My fear is that this will fail to win support and that, as the trans movement keeps pressing and pressing, the backlash will grow and gays and lesbians will become collateral damage. The T activists, having embraced an extremist theory of gender, could undermine not just their own case but also equality for the Ls, Gs, and Bs. They could swiftly reverse the gains we have won. They sure have made a good start in turning the next generation against us.

It’s not only LGB people like Andrew Sullivan who believe gender ideology activism is harming the LGB rights cause. There are trans people who believe it is hurting the trans cause.

For other examples of LGBT people who have criticisms of what is going on in gender activism there are topics listed below on our website:

Trans activism identity politics, psychological consequences, rights conflicts, & LGBT youth

Trans & genderqueer ideology is promoted as progressive by affirmative model advocates & LGBT orgs & media. Some people instead see a generation of gender & sexually confused youth.

People discussing dysphoria not in alignment with activist demands are threatened & censored

A result of an increase of trans visibility & trans activism has been hostility, threats, & attempts to censor discussions of youth medical transition & impacts on female rights. This is the norm now for health professionals, journalists, educators, parents, desisters, & dissenting trans people.