Behind all the shouting, most people are relaxed about transgender issues

In the clash of opinions, to put it mildly, around Dublin Pride’s decision to break its ties with RTÉ, it can easily be forgotten that most people are fairly relaxed about transgender issues.

That, in any case, is my impression.

I was led to this line of thought by a recent survey in the United Kingdom, which suggested that on many of the allegedly controversial issues, most people are quite accepting. They recognise the rights of trans people, though this doesn’t mean that they recognise every single right that every single trans person asserts – for instance, many don’t believe that trans women should compete in women-only sports.

In general, though, the atmosphere is perhaps more accepting and calm than one might think – especially from some of the more fevered declarations on social media. The UK research is relevant because, I suspect, the attitudes in Ireland are as liberal if not more so.

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In the survey of 5,000 people, a little under half (46 per cent) accepted that a trans woman is a woman and a trans man is a man (32 per cent disagreed).

I suspect, based on nothing more than the overwhelming support for marriage equality, that in Ireland the acceptance figure would be more than half. That comparison is far from being exact but I think the referendum underlined how much we had changed in relation to gender and sexuality.

The timing of surgical or hormone treatments is always a difficult issue. In the UK survey, most believed surgical gender re-assignment treatments should begin only after 18 years of age. Almost half were okay with the use of hormone blockers for people below that age. Hormone blockers suppress changes that come with puberty, such as breast development or the growth of body hair.

Perhaps the most visible trans-related issue is that of trans women competing in women-only sporting events. Here, only a minority supported participation by trans women, with the issue being trans women being perceived as having an unfair advantage. A report in the Guardian suggested that on this issue the public is at risk of becoming polarised. That might feel like a big assumption for both the UK and here. Wait, though, until a trans woman takes first place in a big competition ahead of an Irish woman who is not trans and is a firm favourite with the public.

Unisex toilets

Unisex toilets are largely accepted by the UK public, the survey suggests, although some are concerned about bad hygiene by men. I wouldn’t disagree with them there. Support for access to the same changing rooms depends on whether the trans woman has had gender reassignment surgery. If not, opinion was very much against it.

That, by and large, we have accepting opinions and feelings about transgender issues doesn’t mean that transgender people are on an easy path. To reveal oneself as a man in a woman’s body or a woman in a man’s body is, in itself, a life-changing step and must be exceptionally difficult. When sneers and hurtful remarks come, let’s say, in early adolescence, a time when young people are really desperate to be accepted by the group, one can only imagine the pain such insults cause. And if the family is not supportive, then the situation must be dire for the person involved.

Trans people are courageous, an impression that was underlined for me by, as it happens, two Liveline interviews in April. On the programme, two transgender people spoke at length and movingly about their experiences, and “courage” was the word the interviews left me with.

Whether a transgender person shouts it from the rooftops or whispers it, courage is and probably always will be needed (though less, I hope, as time goes on).

When the dust settles on the current controversy, transgender people will still have to face the day with courage, as will Liveline and others who report, in good faith, on these issues.

– Padraig O’Morain (Instagram, Twitter: @padraigomorain) is accredited by the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. His books include Kindfulness – A Guide to Self Compassion; his daily mindfulness reminder is available free by email (pomorain@yahoo.com).