When I spoke with K.J. Rawson, an accomplished associate professor at Northeastern University and the director of the Digital Transgender Archive, he explained an interesting comparison to me. Rawson believes that the phenomenon of the “too many trans people” trope is reminiscent of the sideshow era from the 19th and 20th centuries. During that time, individuals considered “freaks” were able to thrive and attract attention as long as they remained within the confines of the circus tent. Rawson added that there was a notion that a certain level of gender transgression was mesmerizing as long as it remained within the realm of entertainment.
However, Rawson pointed out that when members of the LGBTQ+ community transition from being mere sources of entertainment to becoming neighbors, coffee shop owners, or even teachers, it generates more anxiety about the power they hold within these spaces.
Regarding the idea that some trans individuals are merely victims of a social trend, the acclaimed L.G.B.T.Q. historian, Hugh Ryan, traced this belief back to the work of 19th-century sexologists. Ryan explained that these sexologists categorized individuals as either “inverts,” who were inherently LGBTQ+, and those who demonstrated “acquired inversion,” which referred to straight or cisgender people who began identifying as LGBTQ+ due to external influences.
In a National Review article, Isaac Schorr echoed this sentiment by suggesting that the increasing number of young girls expressing a desire to become males could be influenced by social suggestibility. He emphasized that this does not mean gay and transgender people would not exist without these discussions in the public sphere. Instead, his point was that people, especially young individuals, are susceptible to influence, particularly when these ideas come from authoritative figures like teachers and are presented as truth.
This fear is rooted in the belief that gender and sexuality are alarmingly fragile, easily destabilized by the presence of a gay teacher or a trans TikTok influencer. However, it’s important to recognize that the vast majority of people identify as straight and cisgender, and this will likely continue to be the case in the future. Heterosexuality, along with homosexuality, bisexuality, and being transgender, are all valid and should be celebrated.
While there has unquestionably been an increase in the visibility of LGBTQ+ individuals in the past decade, discomfort with this visibility is not an inherent truth of life. There is no limit to the number of trans individuals that can exist on Earth before society faces ruin or collapse. This is a historical moment in American history where gay and trans people have the opportunity to live authentically, with jobs, marriages, pets, and visibility. When some individuals panic about the rising number of LGBTQ+ individuals and question what causes people to be trans or queer in general, they are implying that repression may be necessary to prevent others from being enticed by these identities. However, it’s important to remember that it is completely normal for more people to be trans now than in previous years.
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