Its easy to feel like Trump and the anti-trans movement are one and the same. Hes certainly pushed forward plenty of anti-trans talking points through his campaign ads, executive orders, stacking of the Supreme Court, and pressure on legislatures. But while hes certainly become a figurehead for the movement in some ways, it seems its not something he truly cares about on its own merits. And when hes gone, the anti-trans movement will still remain, and they wont be as powerless without him as we might hope: Other countries are already showing us how this might play out. Related National security expert says second Lavender Scare is here as govt purges LGBTQ+ workers The anti-trans movement rose alongside Trump, and he certainly used it to his own ends: He has used it as a distraction from other issues and to drive his cult. He has done massive damage using it, but he never created or defined the anti-trans movement. Anti-trans bills started being proposed in legislatures in 2015, with just 19 bills the year before Trump won his first election, to 1,012 bills this year.When Trump leaves office a third term isnt truly likely, and his health might not see him to the end of his current term some of the anti-trans measures will likely fall away. When Biden took office, he reversed Trumps first trans military ban, and that will likely be the fate of the current ban under the next Democratic president. Other things, especially those based on Supreme Court rulings, will likely take longer to shift. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today But expecting all of that to happen overnight, or without a fight, would be to ignore the true nature of Trumps anti-trans agenda. Its not something hes pushing because he has any genuine feelings about girls sports, but because he is enabling those who stand behind or around him to move their own needles.Weve seen his willingness to follow the lead of someone like Russ Vought, one of the authors of Project 2025, when it comes to massive government budget matters. Alliance Defending Freedom and the Heritage Foundation have been behind a huge number of anti-trans bills, messaging, and the general rhetoric that has done so much harm to our community. The organizations and individuals who are behind these bills are true believers in their cause that is, its not 100% political strategy. And while Trump leaving will be a challenge for them, they wont be going anywhere. For an idea of just how much of this anti-trans hate is going to stick around not just in impotent rage but in very real harm we can look overseas, especially to Britain. One of the United Kingdoms leading exports to the United States over the past few years has been its transphobia. (Maybe Trump could put a tariff on it, then people might stop buying it?) The UKs anti-trans wave ranges from J.K. Rowlings hate and popularizing hiding anti-trans attacks under the guise of defending women and lesbians, to the now-infamous Cass Review, which as been used as the basis for gender-affirming care bans in the U.S. and was mimicked by the Health and Human Services report in May, which cited Cass 149 times.The UKs Conservative Party was in power from 2010 to 2024. Like Trump, they presided over the rise of anti-trans rhetoric, and were campaigning on excluding trans people from public life in the election they eventually lost. It was under their government that the Cass Review was commissioned. The new Labour government, which has more recently taken power, has been weak on supporting the trans community, but has also been less obviously anti-trans. Despite that, there has been massive damage to the community during the conservatives relatively short tenure. The UK Supreme Court ruled that the countrys 2010 Equality Act was based on biological sex, and that public womens spaces and political quotas for women were not for trans women. The UKs Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) then put out guidance suggesting the exclusion of trans people from single-gender spaces. A leaked proposed update to that guidance wouldve advised business owners to ban people from single-sex spaces based on appearance.This week, both the Girl Guides (the British version of Girl Scouts) and the Womens Institute (a womens organization that has allowed trans women for over 40 years) have now banned trans women and girls from membership. While both groups have indicated they regret having to make the decision, they have said it is necessary to comply with EHRC and avoid legal battles.It was revealed in November that the Guides have been facing legal action from a parent over their inclusion of trans girls. The parents lawyer said Girlguiding cannot simultaneously rely on an exemption that allows it to provide a female-only association and charity under the Equality Act, while redefining girl and woman to include biological males. This is legally and linguistically incoherent. It is unlawful and should be immediately withdrawn. But while all of this has taken place under the Labour government, it wasnt because they were pushing for it. The case that went to the Supreme Court was made by For Women Scotland, and it received over a third of its legal funding from the noted transphobe JK Rowling. Similarly, the lawsuit against the Girl Guides is reportedly supported by Maya Forstater, an ally of Rowling who went to court claiming that her gender critical beliefs were a protected class that she couldnt be fired over.The UKs anti-trans movement isnt driven by politics, the leading party, or the prime minister. Its driven by money and hate. The UK hasnt been saved by having a politician who doesnt hate, but it might be doomed by a party that wont push to institute protections for the trans community.For trans people to survive in the United States, we dont just need to be rid of Donald Trump: He wont take the anti-trans movement away with him when he departs. We need to be rid of the middle ground politicians who want to sit on the fence while trans lives are in jeopardy. We need leaders who will establish strong, real protections in the law. That doesnt seem likely under our current political system and with Democrats who want to waiver on trans sports issues because they worry it will alienate hard right voters. We need to see a wider cultural shift to understand and accept trans people, which will require greater representation in media, politics, and the world at large.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.