History is Repeating Itself - But We Refuse to Be Erased

Let’s call gender-affirming care what it is: healthcare. Life-saving healthcare. 

For transgender and nonbinary youth, access to this care is not just a matter of survival—it is the foundation for a life filled with dignity, possibility, and joy, clearing the way to step into their truth and thrive. 

We are now living under an administration that has launched an all-out assault on trans youth, weaponizing policies and funding to strip their rights and therefore, the very ability to exist safely in this country.

But at the end of the day, this is not just about healthcare—it is part of a much larger, coordinated effort, anchored as all oppressive tactics are, in white supremacy.

Here we are in February—Black History Month—watching history repeat itself in real-time. The same forces behind the attacks on trans and queer youth are driving the elimination of DEI programs, the mass deportation of immigrants, and the systematic dismantling of policies that protect marginalized communities. 

This is about control—authoritarian control.

The stakes are high. And we must be clear about the facts: this moment we are in is a direct attempt to erase people and progress. What happens today sets precedent for the future.

It's All Connected

Over the years, I've often been asked why Outright takes a public stance on certain issues that don’t readily seem tied to an organization working alongside LGBTQ+ youth to build hope, equity, and power.

Typically these questions are posed when we speak out in support of anti-racist initiatives, actions, and values. And this disconnect most often rests in the minds and bodies of the white people asking these questions.

It’s often true that when white folks imagine a group of "LGBTQ+ youth," likely what comes to mind is a picture of an able-bodied, typically developed, middle-class, white kid with colorful hair and clothes.

In actuality, this somewhat stereotypical image excludes so many of the youth we work with—BIPOC youth, youth living with disabilities, youth growing up in poverty or low-income homes, and so many other critical aspects of our identities. 

LGBTQ+ youth contain multitudes, and their realities are deeply impacted by systems of oppression beyond homophobia and/or transphobia. Even those of us who wholeheartedly believe in fighting against racism often struggle to see the connections between the gender binary and a central pillar of colonialism - unchecked white supremacy.

Put simply, all bad roads are paved by white supremacy, including the gender binary. And it's bad for everyone.

Tema Okun's White Supremacy Culture

In her work, Tema Okun outlines how white supremacy culture manifests in organizations. She explains the impact of either/or thinking as a mindset with "no sense that things can be both/and" and "trying to simplify complex things."

These insights resonate deeply with the experiences of those of us who don't fit into or embrace the gender binary. Humans are inherently complex; we hold a vast spectrum of identities, experiences, and ways of being. Attempting to simplify that complexity perpetuates harm and erases our existence. And yes, given the very public efforts underway from the highest levels of the American Government to literally erase people’s existence, I do choose those words intentionally. 

We've Always Been Here and Always Will Be

One of the very reasons people struggle to believe that trans and non-binary people have existed throughout history is due to the success of colonialism.

This webpage from the Human Rights Campaign provides a short summary and timeline of when - and in what cultures - there is historical evidence of our existence.

Many Indigenous tribes have always recognized a third gender. 

"Research shows that more than 150 pre-colonial Native American tribes acknowledged third genders in their communities. And that may have been a unifying feature of different pre-colonial cultures." (HRC)

It was the colonizers - white supremacists - who systematically erased the existence of queer and trans people. Author Tatiana Villegas explains this beautifully in the article The Intersectionality of Colonialism and Trans Oppression:

"European colonizers condemned same-sex relationships and third-gendered people, calling it sinful. During this period, there was also an abundance of dehumanizing rhetoric around Indigenous people and their culture, including transphobic and homophobic language. The enforcement of binary gender and gender roles by Western colonization disrupted longstanding cultural traditions and attempted to eradicate Indigenous beliefs as a whole."

Today, numerous Indigenous communities around the world, as well as many other cultures, do not conflate gender and sex. Rather, they recognize a third or more genders within their societies. In fact, individuals who identify as a third gender often have visible, socially recognizable, and honored positions within their societies.

But here we are, once again in a brutal moment in American history, wherein those in positions of power are abusing their roles and responsibilities in an attempt to erase others’ existence. 

The Road to Authoritarianism

Let’s look at the way white supremacy and authoritarianism are inextricably linked, feeding each other to maintain a system of control that privileges certain groups. At its core, white supremacy seeks to establish racial hierarchies, believing that white people should dominate socially, politically, and economically. 

Authoritarianism thrives on this foundation by centralizing power in the hands of a few, limiting freedoms, and suppressing dissent.

Authoritarian leaders often use white supremacy to justify their actions, scapegoating marginalized communities—people of color, immigrants, people living with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals—as a means to distract from growing inequities and the consolidation of power. This alliance between white supremacy and authoritarianism is evident in the attacks on trans youth, the elimination of DEI programs, and the dismantling of policies meant to protect the most vulnerable. 

These moves are not isolated—they are part of a broader strategy to enforce conformity, to strengthen systems of oppression, and to ensure that only a chosen few can live freely, safely, and securely.

As we honor Black History Month, we remember that resistance has always been central to our shared history. The fight for liberation—whether against racism, transphobia, or any system of oppression—is deeply interconnected. We must continue to honor the deep connections in our stories and experiences. It's why at Outright, our Queer Ethic and Guiding Principles act as an anchor in pursuit of our mission, reminding us always of our history and its relevance to our work.

Right now, gender-affirming healthcare sits at the heart of the struggle for justice and humanity. We are at a pivotal crossroads, but we are not alone. Just as those before us paved the way, we carry forward their legacy, ensuring that the future holds space for all of us to exist and thrive. 

It is in our togetherness that our resilience will rise. Our vision IS and will remain our north star: A world where LGBTQ+ youth have boundless possibilities for joy, and all people know liberation.