A Little Perspective on a Witch Hunt
According to the CDC, the incidence of transgenderism in the US is about 0.6%. According to researchers in the EU, there are an upper limit of 1.5M transgendered people in the EU out of a total population of 447M, or, 0.3%. There is a lack of information and standardized definitions/formatting of data elsewhere. Thus, in the West the transgender population is about 0.5%.
The percentage of people in the U.S. who profess to believe that the earth is flat is 2%. Thre are no reliable data on other countries. If we cut the U.S. number in half to account for poor education, then the flat-earthers outnumber transgendered people 2:1 across the globe.
I have repeatedly stated that I do not understand transgenderism, but I accept it is real. We owe transgendered people the same rights and respect as all other people. IMO, we do not need to up-end the entire country to protect transgendered people as a special class. That trivializes anti-discrimination efforts by all well-meaning people.
I have known a MtF (one), and a FtM (one) and I'm not sure how many gay/lesbians over my 80+ years. The MtF lived fully as a female, never had surgery and the last thing they wanted was any attention to themselves, simply acceptance; I thought 'she' was mentally sound. She dated men in a casual way but had no serious relationship over the 5-6 years I knew her. The FtM was always dressed in an androgynous fashion was asexual as far as my late wife and I gathered. I just found him/her odd, wife was more friendly but thought something was just off. OTOH, I was acutely aware that Honolulu where I lived for a time was amply supplied with ladies (who were not) servicing tourists. Never knew any that well because often they arrived "for a vacation of a few months". I suspect it was just a business. My gay friends were quite unique and clearly had a different way of seeing the world. Most were creatives or in finances so perhaps my scope was limited. My wife was much more tuned into gay couples and we both had helped through some awful times with AIDS; she more than I. As a teacher she was more aware of children who were simply different, she said they were 'sensitives' but never really discussed them with me.
The entire trans debate seems one newly created and to a degree artificial in my opinion. There just are now too many eager to identify as trans particularly among teens as the hormone changes arrive. We all want to be special and it seems a way to become special.
Seeing your three year old in momma's high heels and something resembling a dress is simple play acting and meaningless. Seeing a teen or any age cross dress as they imagine taking that role is also likely more a fetish or curiosity. That sort of thing has been with us throughout history. I doubt any real gender confusion is involved. Of course women often wear men's clothing without much comment.
I suppose looking on Twitter and Tic-tok we see a lot of boys adopting typical female things, like nails and colored hair styles perhaps for attention. But I also see on Twitter petite boys who appear quite female and call themselves trans. They often have pay video accounts with on-line services like OnlyFans. Whether they are acting for cash or are actually trying to become female, I couldn't say. I just find it odd but I might be too senior to assess the truth.
I had a brother who was gay, and as kids I was aware that he was different, and so did other kids who often gave him a hard time. As far as transgender people, I don't know enough on that subject, but I think it absolutely irresponsible to allow children and young adolescents to undergo sex change procedures, and sometimes without parental consent. It's also hard for me to identify with today's liberals, whose stated beliefs too often come across as mere orthodoxy, as they summarily dismiss any opposing points of view.