Transgender individuals have long fought for their right to exist and live authentically, but one of the most insidious attacks on their community has come from within the realm of academia and social discourse: Blanchardism. This theory, which sexologist Ray Blanchard developed in the 1980s and 1990s, divides trans women into two groups and contends that a sizable portion of them transition due to a fetishistic desire known as “autogynephilia.” Despite the fact that many people have refuted and discredited this idea, anti-trans organizations and individuals continue to use it as a weapon to undermine transgender identities. These efforts are not only aimed at the transgender community but at the general population, using fear and misinformation to create a hostile environment that threatens the safety and dignity of all transgender people.
Blanchard’s Typology and Autogynephilia
Ray Blanchard’s typology of trans women divides them into two categories. The first group, “homosexual transsexuals,” are trans women who are exclusively attracted to men. Blanchard claims their gender identity is legitimate and aligned with their sexual orientation. The second group, which Blanchard controversially labels as “autogynephilic transsexuals,” consists of trans women attracted to women (or sometimes both genders or neither), who he argues are motivated by sexual arousal at the thought of themselves as women. This supposed sexual motivation, coined as “autogynephilia,” pathologizes trans women’s gender identity, suggesting that it’s rooted in a fetish rather than a deeply felt gender dysphoria.
Numerous scientific studies have refuted Blanchard’s theory, and both activists and researchers agree with them. Critics point out that Blanchard’s research methodology was flawed, relying on small, non-representative samples and biased assumptions. Moreover, studies have shown that similar feelings of self-directed arousal are present in cisgender women, meaning Blanchard’s conclusions are not exclusive to transgender women. However, despite these refutations, Blanchardism has continued to permeate discussions of transgender identities, particularly through anti-transgender activists and trans-exclusionary radical feminists (TERFs).
How Anti-Trans Groups Weaponize Autogynephilia
TERFs and other anti-trans groups have seized upon Blanchard’s flawed theory to bolster their campaigns against the transgender community. These groups frequently use the concept of autogynephilia to suggest that trans women are not “real” women but are, in fact, men with sexual fetishes. This characterization serves to invalidate trans women’s experiences and identity, reducing their struggles to a form of deviance or perversion. By spreading this narrative, TERFs and their allies aim to delegitimize the transgender movement as a whole, casting transgender individuals as untrustworthy and deceitful.
The danger of this narrative extends far beyond the transgender community itself. Anti-trans activists often use these ideas to appeal to the broader public, exploiting common fears and misconceptions about transgender people. By presenting transgender identities as inherently linked to sexual deviancy, they create a moral panic that has real-world consequences for trans people. These campaigns frequently aim to mobilize people who may not fully comprehend transgender issues but who are susceptible to sensational claims about safety, sexuality, and the protection of children.
Figures like J.K. Rowling and Posie Parker (Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull) have been at the forefront of popularizing these harmful ideas, using their platforms to spread misinformation about the transgender community. Rowling, for instance, has frequently echoed the idea that trans women pose a threat to cisgender women’s safety, particularly in women-only spaces like bathrooms and shelters. She has repeatedly referenced autogynephilia in her social media posts and public statements, insinuating that many trans women transition not because of genuine gender dysphoria but because of a sexual desire to invade women’s spaces. By presenting trans women as predatory, Rowling has helped fuel the moral panic surrounding transgender rights, legitimizing harmful stereotypes that undermine the rights and safety of trans women.
Similarly, Posie Parker has used Blanchard’s theory to promote her own anti-trans agenda. She frequently asserts that trans women are actually men in disguise and that their motivations are sexual fetishes. Parker has gone further, conflating transgender women with drag queens and cross-dressers in an effort to muddy the waters between transgender identity and performance. This tactic is designed to mislead the public, conflating different expressions of gender variance—drag, cross-dressing, and transgender identity—into a single narrative of fetishistic behavior. By doing so, Parker and her allies aim to diminish the legitimacy of transgender identities and portray trans people as engaging in something unnatural or even dangerous.
Targeting the General Population
These attacks are not just aimed at transgender people; they are also carefully crafted to influence the general population. Anti-trans activists understand that many people still have limited understanding of transgender identities, and they exploit this gap in knowledge to build fear and opposition. By presenting transgenderism as something that is tied to sexual fetishism, they make the issue more palatable for those who might otherwise be indifferent or supportive of trans rights. This fear-based narrative—of trans women as predators or deceivers—seeks to mobilize public sentiment against the transgender community.
The conflation of transgender identities with drag queens and cross-dressers is a key part of this strategy. Drag and cross-dressing are forms of gender expression that, while valid and important within the LGBTQ+ community, are different from the experience of being transgender. By intentionally blending these distinctions, anti-trans groups create a misleading image of transgenderism as performative or deceptive. To someone unfamiliar with transgender identities, this portrayal can seem plausible, making it easier for anti-trans activists to gain support in their broader campaign against transgender rights.
One of the most pernicious tactics used by these groups is the framing of transgender rights as a threat to children. Activists like Posie Parker frequently claim that drag queens and transgender people are attempting to “groom” children, using events like Drag Queen Story Hour as evidence. This is not only factually untrue but deeply harmful, as it stokes fears of pedophilia and sexual exploitation, causing families and communities to push back against even the most benign expressions of gender diversity. This fear-mongering is not about protecting children; it is about creating an atmosphere of distrust and hostility toward anyone who does not conform to traditional gender roles.
The Real-World Consequences of These Attacks
The weaponization of Blanchardism and the concept of autogynephilia has had devastating real-world consequences for the transgender community. Transgender individuals, particularly trans women, are already one of the most vulnerable groups in society, facing higher rates of violence, discrimination, and mental health challenges. The spread of misinformation and fear through these harmful narratives only compounds these issues, making it even harder for transgender people to live safely and authentically.
The idea that transgender women are deceptive or predatory has led to increasing instances of violence and harassment. Trans women are frequently portrayed as threats to public safety, which has been used to justify the exclusion of trans women from women’s spaces, including bathrooms, locker rooms, and shelters. These exclusionary policies are not based on actual instances of harm—trans women are not a threat to cisgender women—but rather on a manufactured panic designed to strip trans women of their rights and dignity.
In addition, the false portrayal of trans people as sexually deviant harms their ability to access healthcare and social services. Many transgender individuals report being denied or delayed in receiving gender-affirming care, and the continued association with fetishism only fuels this systemic discrimination. Medical professionals influenced by these harmful narratives may view transgender patients with suspicion or doubt their motivations for seeking transition-related treatments, making it even harder for trans people to access the care they need.
Fighting Back: Compassion and Education
Despite the challenges posed by these harmful narratives, there is hope for change. The transgender community is strong, and many trans people and their allies are fighting back against the false information and fear-mongering that figures like Rowling and Parker spread. Activists, researchers, and trans individuals themselves are working to educate the public and create a more compassionate, understanding world where transgender people can live without fear of judgment or exclusion.
One of the most effective ways to combat the weaponization of Blanchardism is through education. Allies, families, and friends of the transgender community can play a crucial role by learning about transgender identities, listening to trans voices, and challenging harmful stereotypes when they appear. When people are informed about the realities of transgender experiences—rather than the myths perpetuated by anti-trans activists—they are far less likely to be swayed by fear-based arguments.
For transgender individuals, their families, and allies, it’s vital to remember that these harmful narratives do not define the transgender experience. Transgender people are not motivated by deviant desires or fetishes—they are simply trying to live authentically in a world that often does not understand or accept them. By standing together and pushing back against these damaging ideas, we can create a future where all people, regardless of gender identity, are treated with dignity, respect, and compassion.
In conclusion, the harmful legacy of Blanchardism and the concept of autogynephilia has been weaponized by anti-trans groups to undermine transgender rights and spread fear among the general population. However, through education, empathy, and continued advocacy, the transgender community and its allies can fight back against these damaging narratives and ensure a brighter, more inclusive future for all.
