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Beyond Prejudice: Understanding Transphobia and Its Impact

Transphobia and transmission essentially occurs when people have deeply negative ideas about what it means to be transgender, non-binary, or gender-nonconforming.

These beliefs ultimately affect how they, government, organizations, the media and society in general treat people whose identities do not fit the traditional gender roles we are all familiar with.

Unfortunately, transphobia leads to policies that deny the rights and safety of transgender and non-binary children, youth and adults.
This means they experience discrimination, harassment and sometimes even violence just for not being cisgender.

This is really unfair and unfair because everyone deserves to live in a world where they can be themselves without fear or prejudice.
Transphobia creates many hurdles and barriers for people who are simply trying to be authentic and live as they see fit.

But the good news is that there are people and organizations working hard to fight transphobia and create a more open and tolerant society.

It's important that we all challenge these harmful beliefs, challenge stereotypes, and support trans and non-binary people on their journey to self-acceptance and equality.

The Distinction between Transphobia and Transmisia

Transphobia and transmisia are basically the same. However, transphobia means “to be fearful of transgender people,” which isn’t an accurate way to talk about oppression. Here’s why:
* In medical language, phobias are anxiety disorders. So, saying “transphobia” is unfair to people who have actual phobias.
* Even if someone has fear about trans and nonbinary people — like fear of the unknown or a changing world — it isn’t a phobia.
* Because “transphobia” sounds like an individual condition, the word downplays systems and institutions that harm trans and nonbinary people.

Transphobia is now referred to as transmisia. The “misia” in transmisia means “hatred.” This is a helpful word because it highlights the prejudice at the root of beliefs, attitudes, behaviors, and systems that hurt or deny the existence of trans and nonbinary people.

Exploring the Face of Transmisia

Transmisia takes many forms. In general, transmisia is any attitude, belief, behavior, or policy that:

• stigmatizes or harms trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people;


• denies the validity of their identities;


• sees them as less human; and/or


• treats them as less worthy of care and respect.

Examples of transmisia include:

• state laws that prevent transgender or nonbinary people from using the restroom that aligns with their gender identity;


• federal laws that prevent transgender or nonbinary people from accessing health care or playing sports;


• media that stereotypes transgender people as faking, confused, evil, mentally ill, hypersexual, or bad;


• repeatedly or intentionally using someone’s wrong name (aka deadnaming) or wrong pronouns or other words (aka misgendering);


• policies or efforts to deny transgender and nonbinary people’s access to medical care, including gender-affirming treatments;


• trying to compliment a transgender or nonbinary person by insulting transgender people, such as by telling them that they “don’t look trans”;


• hurting someone emotionally or physically because of their transgender or nonbinary identity through bullying, abuse, or violence — IRL or online;


• outing a trans or nonbinary person;


• refusing to sit with, talk to, or work with someone because they're transgender or nonbinary; and


• use of derogatory language, including slurs.

Sometimes transmisia is obvious. For example, people who are seen as transgender are denied jobs, housing, or health care because of transmisic policies and attitudes — even where it’s illegal.

But transmisia is such a part of everyday life that you may not even notice it.

Many people don’t know they have transmisic beliefs and do transmisic things. They may have learned stereotypes or myths about trans and nonbinary people at home, school, religious institutions, or from the media.

Social media, movies, TV, and music often include negative images of trans and nonbinary people or pretend they don’t exist. So, people may not be aware of trans issues or may think they don’t know anyone who is trans.

The Consequences of Transmisia

The effects of transmisia on trans people are harmful. They can include:

• discrimination and exclusion in employment, housing, and other areas;


• depression, fear, feelings of hopelessness, and suicide;


• chronic illnesses and poor health care;


• isolation; and


• violence, including sexual assault and murder.

While transmisia is most harmful to trans and nonbinary people, the gender roles and stereotypes that transmisia is built on don’t let anyone live as their whole, truest selves. Transmisia has a negative effect on all of us.

People More Likely to Be Harmed by Transmisia

• Trans people who are also harmed by other kinds of oppression — like racism and ableism.


• Trans women and other transfeminine people, who often experience more violent kinds of transmisia because of sexism.


• People who live in areas with anti-trans legislation.

People who generally experience less transmisia:

• People who live in places with more legal protections for trans and nonbinary people.


• People who “pass” (as opposed to people who are seen as transgender).

What’s binarism?

Binarism is the belief that there are only two genders. Binarist attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, and policies exclude or harm nonbinary and gender noncomforming people.

Binarism:

• aims to erase the identity of nonbinary people;


• labels transgender and nonbinary people as confused;


• contributes to the erasure and harm of intersex people.

Binarism often overlaps with transmisia, but it’s also harmful on its own. For example, trans people may be protected by law to use the restroom they’re most comfortable using.

But it’s binarist to force everyone to choose between either a men’s room or a women’s room — and not have a gender-inclusive restroom.

Because of binarism in society, nonbinary people may have to make hard, unfair choices around restrooms, which sports team to play on, what kinds of gender-affirming care they need, where to get their hair cut, and much more. Binarism in your community can make coming out more challenging.