By Kye Campbell-Fox
Journalist and podcaster Imara Jones recently spoke with Dr. Sebastian Mitchell Barr and Beck Gee about “Mental Health and the 2024 Elections” on the TransLash Podcast. Jones, Barr, and Gee discussed the current sociopolitical environment’s impact on transgender and nonbinary people and how we can counter negative effects with community care and queer/trans joy. Here are a few highlights from Jones’ interviews and additional resources.
The past few years have been a strain for many trans people, who have faced vicious attacks by a former president and state legislatures, not to mention the stresses of a global pandemic. Barr validated that it is normal to experience fear, anger, stress, or dysregulation because of how mentally overwhelming the anti-trans legislative agenda can be and how psychologically damaging it can be to be exposed to frequent and vitriolic anti-trans rhetoric. Some research has indicated that there is a negative psychological impact akin to PTSD of this constant exposure to hateful remarks, actions, and policies, also referred to as enacted stigma. Barr encouraged trans people to continue to connect with each other, to take care of themselves, and to find joy where possible. It is difficult to fight systemic oppression when stuck in survival mode and so self-care is essential, especially for individuals seeking to provide care to others.
Self-care and community care can be difficult when faced with so much political turmoil and attacks on the trans community. Many trans and nonbinary people are uncomfortable seeking help from institutions such as hospitals when having a mental health crisis due to a lack of trust in the medical system or past bad experiences. Gee advocated for community care models and community networks to navigate around oppressive systems when necessary. Preventing crises by checking in regularly and genuinely with friends about their well-being, as well as being aware of other signs that someone may not be OK, is key for reducing the need to interact with systems that may not be supportive of trans identities.
Both Barr and Gee advocated strongly for taking time away from political trauma, embracing opportunities for joy, and for sharing that joy with others in the community. To learn more, check out the full podcast.
Dr. Barr also recently shared a series of recommendations for managing election-related stress for trans people via Instagram. He published two related substack articles as well. The first explains why trans people are facing so much politics-related distress right now and why invalidating feelings of stress is more harmful than helpful. This article is also a useful tool for allies who want to better understand the threats trans people are currently facing. The second substack article is about how to manage that stress and is for anyone struggling with the current sociopolitical climate and the hopelessness it can inspire.
This podcast also includes a clip from our lab’s leader, Dr. Jae Puckett, discussing the Trans Resilience Postcard Project (co-led with Dr. Zachary DuBois at the University of Oregon) and the importance of trans joy. The postcards feature quotes from study participants about what resilience means to them alongside artistic representations of their words, created by artist Zeph Fishlyn. There are 5 designs, and each person can request postcards of each design, completely free of charge. You can keep them for yourself or mail them to friends who could use some encouragement! Check out the project website to order your own free resilience postcards: https://transresiliencestudy.com/resilience-postcard-project/
Another pertinent resource in the wake of the 2024 election is the Trans Justice Project’s “The Anti-Trans Disinformation Handbook: A Handbook for Media, Civil Society, and Governments for Combatting Anti-Trans Disinformation,” available for download on their website, https://transjustice.org.au/resources/. This resource provides sources supporting the efficacy of gender affirming care and exposing how a few anti-trans groups have positioned themselves as “experts” in trans healthcare in order to advance anti-trans narratives.
The Trans Justice Project offers the following steps for fighting disinformation:
Limit the reach - Don’t repeat their messages, even to deny them.
Instead:
Develop counter narratives
Delegitimize opponents
Inoculate key audiences
The full handbook contains more information on these steps and how they can be applied to common anti-trans disinformation on gender affirming care, worldwide gender diversity, de/re-transition, puberty blockers, how trans identities form, intersections with neurodivergence, misused research, and denial of care for youth. Those who are interested in learning more about combating disinformation should visit the above website for the full handbook.
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