Alternative Facts: Combatting Misinformation on Trans Communities

There have always been transphobic myths and stereotypes circulated by cultural and political figures hoping to build their name on controversy. From the illegalization of “cross-dressing” to the promulgation of bathroom panic, fears about trans people have ebbed and flowed over the decades. The anti-LGBTQ+ movement lost its footing after the right to marry regardless of gender was codified into law, but it has since regained a foothold in the American imagination with imagined stories of transgender youth playing on sports teams and doctors experimenting on minors.

This session provides vital insight into the inner workings of the anti-trans movements worldwide, situating modern political attacks in a larger timeline of opposition to transgender lives and humanity. The session focuses on the following topics:

• The rise and fall (and rise) of the anti-trans Right in the U.S.

• Intersectionality of racism and anti-trans political and cultural attacks

• Examination of the Mental Model of Transphobia, giving learners critical insight into the beliefs underlying transphobic campaigns

• The science of dismantling transphobic talking points and ideas, with interactive activities designed to teach practical skills for interrupting misinformation and disinformation in the moment, online, and systemically

“Our community is in higher ed, which means we are particularly hesitant to take risks or stand out. Trystan’s work helped us learn courage, so we could have more direct, effective conversations to stop transphobia in its tracks on our campus.”