'Honest dialogue is the route to trans acceptance'

After coming out as trans while working at Goldman Sachs, Maeve DuVally, says the political exploitation of the issue needs to end

- Maeve DuVally

AS an American transgender woman living in New York City, I wade into the UK debate on cancel culture and freedom of speech with some trepidation. It's acrimonious and nasty but that doesn't mean it has to stay that way. I'm an optimist and have been ever since I realized I am transgender in 2018 and came out in all areas of my life in 2019 while working at Goldman Sachs. My experience is uniquely mine, and my views are my own. The transgender and gender non-conforming community is vast and experiences myriad.

Since leaving Goldman 16 months ago, I have spent my time speaking on LGBTQ issues, mentoring trans people and serving on non-profits that work to improve the lives of queer people. While my focus is decidedly domestic, I try to stay abreast of the issues facing transgender people around the world. Living in the US, I’m no stranger to transphobia. My country is socially and politically bifurcated. In the Northeast and on the West Coast, trans rights are largely protected by law, we are accepted by those around us and some, but not all, have opportunities to prosper.

Inland America is mostly an alternative reality. State laws restrict gender-affirming healthcare for youth, bathroom access in schools and transgender youth participation in sports. Politicians from these states feel emboldened to condemn transgenderism, repeating lies about gender-affirming care and suggesting transgender people are miscreants, looking to prey on the cisgender, or non-transgender, population. In both our countries, I see unprecedented cruelness from politicians using transgender people as a winning political issue to curry favour with their conservative bases. What’s the end game for these heartless individuals?