Fake “threats”: How trans issues became weaponised

Stanley Cohen, a sociologist and criminologist, coined the term moral panic in 1972. He said people or conditions could be framed as threats to society, creating fear about exaggerated or completely imagined concerns.

Scholars have identified five stages of this process: a group is perceived as a threat; the media amplifies this perception; public anxiety increases, with high levels of fear; gatekeepers respond with policy proposals; and finally the issue either dissipates or leads to long-term consequences.

Recent events and decisions across the world show how transgender and gender-diverse people are unfairly positioned in this process.

In 2024 US Republicans spent millions on advertising to portray transgender issues as broad threats and anti-trans action was among President Donald Trump’s first executive orders. Republicans repeatedly framed gender-affirming care and trans inclusion as threats to children and to cisgender women’s safety in bathrooms and sports.

“In 2024 US Republicans spent millions on advertising to portray transgender issues as broad threats”

On his first day in office, Trump issued an executive order saying that the US government would recognise only two sexes, male and female — even though this is not scientifically accurate.

This directive affects documentation, healthcare policies and access to gender-affirming treatment under US federal programs. Further executive orders restricted gender-affirming care and directed the Department of Defense to ban trans people from serving in the military.

The anti-trans directives continued in February, going as far as lobbying the International Olympic Committee on the issue and warning of action against 2028 Los Angeles Olympics athletes who “misrepresent their sex”.

Transgender issues also took centre stage in the 2024 UK election and former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak memorably asserted that “a man is a man, and a woman is a woman”.

In Brazil, former President Jair Bolsonaro has been a vocal opponent of what he terms “gender ideology,” characterising it as a threat to Brazilian families and values and saying the country must not become a “gay tourism paradise”. He also directed a range of anti-trans initiatives.

Meanwhile, Australia Nationals leader David Littleproud suggested that the country must also consider the “issue” of gender to follow the path of Trump’s executive orders.

The suggestion was dismissed by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton but it demonstrates the potential impact that global developments can have in Australia.

In Australia, disinformation groups such as “Advance” spread fear and hate for political gain. Source: The Klaxon

Who it effects

Restrictions on gender-affirming care can directly affect women more broadly, children with medical conditions and people living with HIV.

Broad bans on hormone therapies can interfere with treatments for menopause, premenstrual dysphoric disorder and endometriosis, as well as puberty blockers for children experiencing precocious or unusually early puberty.

Historically, attacks on trans rights have also served as a precursor to broader rollbacks of reproductive freedoms. The same politicians who support bans on gender-affirming care often want limits on abortion, birth control or other LGBTQ+ rights.

Beyond healthcare, the weaponisation of transgender issues also distracts from the real problems affecting trans people and even the very groups this moral panic purports to defend.

Women’s sport is an example. While trans women are often framed as a threat to fairness, the chronic underfunding, pay disparities and lack of media coverage in women’s sport continue to be overlooked.

“Australia would benefit if politicians resisted moral panic and responded to real concerns from all Australians…not manufactured fear”

Trans women make up an extremely small percentage of athletes and existing policies already regulate fair competition, yet this issue is given disproportionate attention over far more pressing concerns.

The solution lies in evidence-based policy.

With an election approaching, Australia would benefit if politicians resisted moral panic and responded to real concerns from all Australians — including the transgender community — not manufactured fear.