We spent a lot of time when the boys were growing up reminding them that words matter, actions matter more, and that there can be unexpected consequences for both. We also strived to instill in our sons that in our family, every person is shown respect and dignity, even those with whom we disagree. It’s simple: just be nice to everyone.

Not saying we’re ideal parents, but I wish that the moms and dads of a lot of Republicans had taught their kids similar ideals, especially when it comes to transgender folks. The vilification of a group who, per the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law, represents just one percent of Americans over 13 is having serious repercussions on people’s lives. According to the Institute’s analysis of the 2022 U.S. Trans Survey data, five percent of trans and non-binary people reported experiencing a physical attack during 2021, compared to 1.5 percent for the rest of us.

The survey showed being perceived as transgender caused a 72 percent higher chance of being attacked. About two-thirds of victims pointed to their transgender identity and one-third to their sexual identity as the source of the attack.

“Research consistently shows that transgender people face significantly higher rates of violence than their cisgender peers,” according to the Williams Institute’s Jordan Grasso, the lead author of the analysis.

The election of President Donald Trump in 2024 has only made the situation worse. Another Williams Institute survey from April 2026 revealed that two-thirds of kids with transgender parents were more “anxious or fearful under the Trump administration”. A full 56 percent of them “expressed new worries, including concerns about parental safety, discrimination, relocation, or family separation.”

One of the most important jobs of any parent is to protect their kids. Nearly nine in ten of the transgender moms and dads in the Institute’s survey are taking steps to keep their children safe. Some of their actions are pretty drastic. A full 40 percent have decided to “limit the visibility of their own gender identity”. Even more, 45 percent skip spaces or events that are intended specifically for families.

Nearly one in five of these parents are actually heading to states or countries that are far more accepting. While another 15 percent are opting to either switch schools or homeschool their kids.

The report’s lead author, Abbie E. Goldberg, affiliated scholar at the Williams Institute and Professor of Psychology at Clark University, said, “The heightened fears transgender parents and their children are experiencing in the current sociopolitical and legislative climate strike at the heart of their security and stability.”

To combat this lack of security and stability, transgender parents are taking action to ensure their relationship with their children and significant other is legally recognized. Others are taking self-defense classes. Still, some are grabbing pepper spray and “personal alarms.” Many others are immersing themselves in the LGBTQ+ community, where they’re finding support, information about their rights, and positive and reaffirming resources for their kids.

Another of the study’s authors, Brad Sears, distinguished senior scholar of law and policy at the Williams Institute, notes that  “While some are engaging more in the LGBTQ community, others are having to re-closet themselves and their families and explain why that is necessary to their children after trying to instill in them pride in who they are and the power of being visible.”

The climate of fear and intimidation perpetrated by the Trump Administration in concert with those who support him and share his views has led to dire consequences for transgender people and their kids. What’s really crazy about all of this is that there’s a simple solution to it all: just be nice.