Following Donald Trump's recent presidential victory, transgender rights activists are reevaluating their approach to advocacy. Many believe a more conciliatory tone is needed to gain broader public support. According to The New York Times, some activists feel that aggressive tactics, such as strict pronoun enforcement and characterizing misgendering as violence, have alienated potential allies.

Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, Executive Director of Advocates for Transgender Equality, emphasized the importance of allowing people to change their minds without fear of being vilified. "We have to make it OK for someone to change their minds," Heng-Lehtinen told the Times. "We cannot vilify them for not being on our side. No one wants to join that team."

The Times reports that activists are now focusing on pushing back against the "all-or-nothing voices" within their own movement and seeking common ground with those who hold differing views. They believe that treating skeptics as potential allies, rather than enemies, is crucial for advancing their cause.

This shift in strategy comes as figures like Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts express concerns about certain tactics employed by the transgender rights movement. Moulton reportedly shared his reservations about the focus on pronouns in email signatures, highlighting the perception of the Democratic party as "weird" by some. He also acknowledged the challenge of balancing the rights of transgender individuals with the concerns of athletes regarding fairness and safety in sports.

However, not all activists agree with this change in direction. Gillian Branstetter, a communications strategist for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), maintains a more assertive stance. She argues that the opposition is driven by a fundamental threat to the existence of transgender people and that compromise with such viewpoints is not feasible.