15 Transphobias in ‘Trans Totalitarianism’

Rod Dreher’s August 2022 article in The American Conservative

Jack-o-lantern by Benjamin Balazs from Pixabay

Last August, Rod Dreher wrote a long, rambling screed called “Trans Totalitarianism: Time For Moral Panic” in the American Conservative. It’s low on facts and high on transphobia. First, I’ll show you quickly how we recognize that the perspective is transphobic, and then I’ll show you 15 specific pieces of nonsense.

How Do We Know He’s Anti-Transgender?

Do a quick visual scan. Here are some words he uses to describe trans people (adults or children), or the healthcare and other forms of support they receive, all from this article:

• “egregious,” “horrible,” “grossed out,” “hideous,” “demonic evil”
• “monstrous child abuse…happening out in the open”
• “trans-totalitarians in doctor’s coats and other symbols of authority”
• “Mengeles hiding behind euphemism”
• “all of us are propagandized daily”
• “the implementation of a single illiberal ideology…through total capture of [the society’s] institutions”
• “the window is closing on traditional American liberties — and that means they will be able to come after your kids, permanently”