??The 1% They Fear the Most: The Transformative Power of Trans ????? and Nonbinary People??
Dr. Elijah Nicholas, DBA, MBA, MAET, MSOL
National Director of Policy & Strategy, NTVM | Conscious-Driven Leadership Consultant, DEN Consulting | Executive Director, GTEP | USAF Lt Col (Ret) | ?? Keynote Speaker | ?? Multi-Published Author
When most people hear the phrase “the 1%,” they immediately think of wealth—billionaires, corporate elites, the financial puppet masters who seemingly dictate the trajectory of economies and politics. But today, I want to talk about a different kind of 1%—one that has shifted the course of national and global conversations, influenced elections, and redefined the landscape of civil rights.
I’m talking about transgender and nonbinary people.
Despite making up less than 1% of the U.S. population, trans and nonbinary individuals have been thrust into the center of political debates, legal battles, and cultural reckonings. Think about that for a moment—how is it that such a small demographic has become the focus of legislation, campaign rhetoric, and international discourse? How has an issue that impacts relatively few become one of the most polarizing topics of our time?
The answer lies in the weaponization of identity.
The Mastermind of the Anti-Trans Agenda
A mastermind—or rather, a master of political manipulation—recognized the potential of manufacturing a crisis. This person (or rather, the collective strategy of those who seek power through division) realized that stoking fear around gender identity could serve as a powerful distraction. And so, they created the illusion of a gender war—an existential threat to an antiquated, binary understanding of identity. They gave it a name: “gender ideology.”
From there, they wrapped it in moral panic, injected it with manufactured outrage, and sold it as an urgent crisis. They disguised bigotry as “protecting women and girls” and fed misinformation to the masses. The result? The uninformed took the bait, consuming a narrative designed to instill fear, confusion, and hatred.
Make no mistake—this was no accident.
This orchestrated attack on trans people wasn’t about fairness in sports. It wasn’t about bathroom access. It wasn’t about pronouns or parental rights. It was about control. It was about manufacturing an enemy—a scapegoat to rally a base, distract from real societal issues, and consolidate power. It was about ensuring that discussions about healthcare, economic inequality, racial justice, and wealth disparities took a backseat to a moral panic about whether a trans teenager can access affirming care.
And it worked.
The Political Weaponization of Trans Identity
Look no further than the 2024 U.S. elections to see just how much trans people have become a focal point. Trans rights are now a major political issue—not because trans people demanded it, but because politicians decided that our existence was a convenient wedge issue.
From school board meetings to presidential debates, our identities have been debated, legislated, and litigated at an unprecedented rate. More than 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced in 2023 alone, with many targeting trans healthcare, education, and public accommodations. Red states rushed to pass laws banning gender-affirming care, barring trans athletes from competing, and even restricting which pronouns can be used in classrooms.
But here’s the irony: for a group so “powerless,” trans people sure do seem to have a lot of influence.
If we were truly as insignificant as our detractors claim, why are they spending billions in campaign dollars, hours of legislative sessions, and entire election cycles obsessing over us? Why are we being framed as a fundamental threat to democracy, religious freedom, and even civilization itself?
Because we are powerful.
The Contradictions That Expose the Agenda
One of the most blatant contradictions in the anti-trans rhetoric is the portrayal of trans women as simultaneously too strong and too weak to exist in society.
Which is it?
Are we too powerful or too fragile? Are we dominating society or being erased? The binary lens through which critics try to define us simply does not hold up to logic.
And therein lies the greatest irony of all—those who fight the hardest to erase us cannot stop talking about us.
Shifting the Legal Landscape of the World
Beyond the U.S., the trans narrative has influenced policies, protests, and legal battles worldwide. From the UK’s Gender Recognition Reform Bill to anti-trans crackdowns in Uganda and Russia, the conversation about trans rights has become a global battleground. Nations are debating trans people’s right to exist freely, and movements both in support of and against trans rights have gained momentum.
Even in countries that have historically been progressive on LGBTQ+ issues, the rise of far-right ideologies has emboldened attacks on trans rights. What started as a fringe talking point in certain political circles has now become a full-fledged global crisis of identity and rights.
The True Power of the 1%
At the heart of it all, there is one undeniable truth:
Trans and nonbinary people—less than 1% of the population—have changed the course of history.
We have forced society to rethink gender norms, reimagine what equality truly means, and challenge institutions that have long upheld exclusionary frameworks. Whether through art, activism, politics, or everyday resistance, trans people have become an unstoppable force of cultural and social evolution.
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And that is why there is so much effort to control, suppress, and erase us.
Because those in power fear the power of change.
Rock On, My Trans Siblings
So to my trans and nonbinary siblings: Rock on.
Let them legislate against us. Let them spew misinformation. Let them contradict themselves into oblivion. It won’t stop the inevitable.
We are here. We are powerful. And we are shaping the future.
They can’t stop us. They never could.
Because the most powerful force in the world isn’t wealth, or status, or control—it’s truth.
And the truth is: we exist, we persist, and we will continue to thrive.
In Community and Solidarity,
*Article Sources:
1. Transgender Population in the U.S.
- According to a study by the Williams Institute, over 1.6 million adults and youth identify as transgender in the United States, accounting for approximately 0.6% of the population aged 13 and older.
2. Record Number of Anti-LGBTQ+ Bills in 2023
- The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) reported that in 2023, over 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced in U.S. state legislatures, marking a record high.
3. Public Awareness of Transgender Individuals
- A Pew Research Center survey found that 1.6% of U.S. adults identify as transgender or nonbinary, with a rising share of Americans reporting that they know someone who is transgender.
4. Recent Executive Order on Transgender Athletes
- On his first day of his second term, President Donald Trump issued an executive order banning transgender female athletes from competing in women’s sports, aiming to "restore biological truth" to the federal government.
5. Violence Against Transgender Individuals
- A report by the Human Rights Campaign highlighted ongoing violence against transgender and gender-expansive individuals in the U.S., noting at least 36 deaths in the past year, with Black transgender women being particularly affected.
Thank you for sharing your insight ??
Executive Director at LAVENDER RIGHTS PROJECT | Dedicated Advocate for Equity | Black Trans Leader | Strategic Restructuring | Social Justice Champion
2 周This is powerful! Less than 1% and all of this. We need powerful voices right now
Creative Director ? Operations Strategist ? AI (Aesthetic Intelligence) Specialist
2 周Dr. Elijah Nicholas, this piece is powerful, necessary, and deeply resonant. The resilience and influence of trans and nonbinary people in the face of systemic opposition is undeniable. Your words remind us that truth, courage, and community are forces that cannot be silenced. Thank you for this brilliant reflection and for continuing to shine a light on the realities that so many seek to erase.