Has the Trans Tipping Point Arrived?

September Live + Unfiltered - Saturday, September 13th 10:00 am ET

Our next Live + Unfiltered discussion is happening Saturday, September 13th at 10:00 am ET / 3:00 pm London time — and we hope you’ll join us!

This month, we’re asking: has the trans trend reached a cultural tipping point?

In a twist of irony, Malcolm Gladwell — the author of The Tipping Point — recently admitted that he once felt “cowed” into going along with the idea of trans women competing in female sports. He now said plainly in a viral interview clip: “trans athletes have no place in the female category.” Is Gladwell’s about-face an indication of a broader cultural shift, or are we in store for many more years of prominent people in positions of authority caving to activist pressure?

Among youth, too, there are signs that “being trans” may have lost its edge. What once seemed rebellious, countercultural, and cool is starting to feel more like yesterday’s trend. It’s now become far less frowned-upon to call out the abusive and self-indulgent behavior of MtFs attempting to get famous online with their pseudo-victim status.

For parents, all of this this raises an important question: how does a shifting cultural current affect the pressures on your family, and what does it mean for your role as the steady, guiding voice in your child’s life?

In our discussion, we’ll consider:

• What Malcolm Gladwell’s reversal symbolizes about broader cultural shifts

• Why other prominent figures are finding the courage to speak more openly now

• Whether youth culture is starting to see trans identities as passé rather than cutting-edge

• How parents can interpret and respond to these cultural signals in their own homes

Your “Homework”

Before we meet, identify some examples of other prominent figures who have done an “about-face” on gender or trans issues, and come prepared to discuss!