His knack for drawing a crowd can easily lead people to believe that, “Oh, everyone shares this opinion. Everyone is upset about trans individuals.” Social psychology tells us that people often go along with what they perceive as the dominant viewpoint. The challenge we face is that the internet and today’s media environment can distort our understanding of what the majority truly thinks, adjusting our attitudes as it redefines what we see as ‘normal.’
I believe he’s doing two things at once. He’s tapping into the concerns or outrage of a small group and leveraging media, particularly social media, to broadcast this to the wider public, suggesting, “Look, this is what everyone is thinking.” This can prompt others to react with, “Oh, well then I’m upset too.”
It’s hard for me to accept that, just a few years ago, people were this concerned about trans folks using bathrooms. Not long before all this fuss, many thought, “Sure, that’s fine. Let’s just update the signage.”
Healy: And even Donald Trump had a moment like that. I remember when he was asked about Caitlyn Jenner, a transgender woman, using a bathroom. Trump responded that she could use whichever one she liked. Afterward, I heard from many as a reporter questioning, “Where does Trump really stand on this? Does he harbor any ill will towards trans or LGBTQ people?” Or is he just engaging in the classic Trump-style transactional politics, catering to voter demands—even if it involves sacrificing trans rights?
McMillan Cottom: Absolutely, it’s misguided to dwell on how Trump’s personal beliefs influence his politics. He’s clearly someone who operates on transactional politics. This can be disheartening, as it’s all about political convenience for him. However, if you’re looking for a glimmer of hope, consider that transactions can change when incentives change. Unfortunately, the mechanisms to alter these incentives are currently undemocratically controlled, concentrated in the hands of a small group who share Trump’s political leanings.
