Hey GYWPride family!
Today, I want to talk about something incredibly important, something that often gets lost in the noise of current debates, but holds a profound lesson for us all: the history of “gender critical” ideology.
You hear the term “gender critical” a lot these days, often presented as a new, progressive stance. But let me tell you, there’s nothing new about it. In fact, its roots are terrifyingly deep, and they stretch back to one of the darkest periods in human history: Nazi Germany.
Yes, you read that right. The Nazis, those architects of unimaginable horror, held deeply “gender critical” beliefs. Their twisted worldview was built on rigid, oppressive ideas about sex and gender, seeing any deviation from their narrow norms as a threat to their so-called “purity” and order. This wasn’t just abstract philosophy; it had devastating, murderous consequences.
Let’s rewind to 1933. This year wasn’t just a turning point for Germany; it was a turning point for the world, and a chilling prelude to what was to come for LGBTQ+ people, including our trans siblings. When the Nazis seized power, they launched a systematic war against anything that challenged their hateful ideology.
What was one of their first targets? Books on transgender lives and sexuality. These invaluable resources, representing decades of pioneering research and understanding of human gender identity – often by LGBTQ+ and trans scholars themselves – were deemed “un-German.” They were dragged from libraries, piled high in public squares, and reduced to ash in infamous book burnings. Think about that: the intentional destruction of knowledge, specifically targeting the truth and complexity of gender.
It didn’t stop with books. The world’s first gender clinic, the Institute for Sexual Science in Berlin, founded by the visionary Magnus Hirschfeld, was a beacon of hope and progress. It provided groundbreaking research, support, and even early forms of gender-affirming care. For so many trans, gender non-conforming, and LGBTQ+ individuals, it was a sanctuary.
The Nazis, fueled by their “gender critical” hatred, didn’t tolerate such a place. They raided the Institute, ransacked its archives, and ultimately shut it down. Its staff and patients – many of whom were trans or gender non-conforming – faced unimaginable persecution, imprisonment, and ultimately, transport to concentration camps. Their lives were snuffed out, their identities erased, all because they dared to exist outside of the Nazis’ brutal gender binary.
So, when someone asks you what age “gender critical” ideology is, don’t let them tell you it’s a modern concern. The answer isn’t a few years ago, or even a few decades.
The answer is 1933
It’s the age of burning books, the age of clinics being destroyed, and the age of our trans elders and siblings being sent to camps simply for living their truth.
Remembering this history is crucial. It’s a stark, painful reminder that exclusionary beliefs about gender are not new; they have a long, terrifying history of being used to dehumanize, oppress, and erase.
For us at GYWPride, understanding this past strengthens our resolve. It reminds us that our fight for liberation, for acceptance, and for the right to simply exist as we are, is part of a much larger, ongoing struggle. We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us, and we must never forget the cost of allowing “gender critical” ideology to take root.
Let’s honor those lives lost and those stories silenced by continuing to be loud, proud, and unwavering in our support for all members of our LGBTQ+ and trans community. Our history demands nothing less.
#GYWPride #TransRightsAreHumanRights #NeverForget #HistoryMatters #LGBTQLiberation