If we rule out the notion that people have ‘gendered souls’ at odds with their biological sex – and we do, absolutely, rule that out – then there still has to be some explanation for the unstoppable rise in the numbers of young people who call themselves trans. A survey of secondary school teachers in England has found that nearly 75 per cent say they now have at least one trans pupil. What’s behind it?
Well here, to celebrate Pride month, is my theory. I’ve spent many terrible rubber-necking evenings in the online trans world and my strong impression is that the whole phenomenon is (amongst other things) a desperate desire to remain childlike. We’ve scared the kids so much with talk of fascism, racism and the planet’s imminent demise that they just don’t fancy growing up. The eternal puberty of transition, painful as it is, offers them a way out, a way to be looked after for ever.
My strong impression is that the whole trans phenomenon is a desperate desire to remain childlike
I owe this thought to Dylan Mulvaney, the social media celeb.
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