Empowerment Journey: A Narrative of Transgender Identity
In the heart of Brussels, Aria, a 27-year-old woman, finds solace in her gender transition, considering it the best thing that has ever happened to her. Four years ago, Aria came out as transgender and has since lived her identity more freely.
Across Europe, the journey of transgender individuals is marked by both challenges and triumphs. Despite scientific consensus that being trans is a natural and healthy expression of human diversity, transgender people are often portrayed as mentally ill. High-profile individuals like Elon Musk and J.K. Rowling have attacked gender minorities, contributing to a political backlash against trans rights.
However, the LGBTQIA+ community has shown remarkable resilience in the face of discrimination. In spite of the challenges, it has served as a powerful motor for defiance and civic engagement, with people organizing large-scale protests against discrimination. The activism of these individuals has been found to facilitate the development of resilience in the LGBTQ+ community.
The term "transgender" refers to people whose gender identity is different from the one assigned at birth. Transgender people remain largely misunderstood by cisgender people. In an effort to better represent and appreciate the life experiences of transgender individuals, media and public discourse should focus on authentic, diverse, and accurate storytelling that centers transgender voices and expertise.
Key practices include including transgender people and experts as sources in news coverage, highlighting multidimensional, real-life experiences, ensuring representation of diverse identities within the transgender community, encouraging media professionals to receive training and resources on diversity and inclusion, avoiding simplistic or antagonistic frames, and increasing transgender representation within media organizations.
These approaches help build familiarity, reduce stigma, and promote understanding, creating a media environment where transgender people are seen as fully human with diverse stories—not objects of pity, pathologies, or political tokens.
Unfortunately, not all European countries have been supportive. The UK Supreme Court ruled that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex, jeopardizing trans women's access to single-sex services and spaces. In Hungary, a law introduced in 2021 barred organizations from sharing LGBT-related information with minors in schools and the media. The ruling was the culmination of an intense lobbying campaign by the trans-exclusionary feminist organization For Women Scotland.
Two European countries prohibit any change of civil status for transgender people: Bulgaria and Hungary. On the other hand, eight European countries allow gender self-determination, including Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, and Spain.
Marion, a 31-year-old education assistant based in France, identifies as non-binary and sees being transgender as a way to understand and accept themselves better. Arnaud Alessandrin, a gender sociologist, argues for giving a voice to trans people in plural to understand their subjectivity and multiplicity. Julia Serano, an author and activist, criticizes the "mystification of trans people" in media narratives.
In recent years, Europe has seen a campaign against trans rights, including legal definitions based on biological sex and restrictions on access to single-sex services and spaces. Across Europe, transgender people are facing increasing insecurity, with 20% of those surveyed by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights saying they had been physically or sexually assaulted because of their gender identity or sexual orientation in the five years preceding the survey.
The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) reports a sharp increase in hate speech against LGBTQIA+ people, particularly by public figures and institutions. It is crucial that we continue to advocate for the rights and well-being of transgender individuals, promoting understanding and acceptance in our media and public discourse.
[1] Media Diversity Institute, "Reporting on Transgender Issues: A Guide for Journalists" [2] GLAAD, "Transgender 101" [3] American Psychological Association, "Answers to Your Questions for a Better Understanding of Transgender People" [4] Human Rights Campaign, "Transgender People Face Disproportionate Violence and Discrimination"
- Science confirms that being transgender is a natural and healthy aspect of human diversity, yet mental-health issues are frequently associated with transgender individuals in the media and public discourse.
- Mental sociologist Arnaud Alessandrin suggests that giving space for trans people in plural could facilitate a better understanding of their complex subjectivity.
- Asia, a transgender woman, finds solace in her transition, but many transgender individuals face challenges, including physical or sexual assault, across Europe, highlighting the need for improved health-and-wellness and mental-health support for this community.
