My doctoral studies focus on the queer far-right. As part of this research, I've spent a fair bit of time looking at fascist ideologies, and there are disturbing crossovers between historical accounts of fascism and contemporary movements, especially the role of anti-transgender rhetoric and action. This post has been bubbling away for a while in my mind, but was spurred into words by Posie Parker's visit to Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand over the past week. My contribution to this area of literature is smaller than the activists who went and shut it down, but I thought I'd use my particular skillset to frame the anti-trans movement within the fascist ideology.
To start, however, a note on language. Fascism is a fundamentally misused term: it's often used in political rhetoric to describe anything or anyone that someone doesn't like. This overuse has rendered the term almost meaningless as a political ideology. In this context I'm referring to actual fascism: "characterized by a dictatorial leader, centralized autocracy, militarism, forcible suppression of opposition, belief in a natural social hierarchy, subordination of individual interests for the perceived good of the nation and race, and strong regimentation of society and the economy."
What's the situation?
We are seeing a contemporary increase in global hatred for transgender people, gender diverse persons, and drag queens. Much of this attention has been driven by anti-transgender activists such as Posie Parker (or, as they would say "Pro-Women" or "Gender Critical" as if they aren't some sort of dog whistle to their true intentions), claiming to defend women's rights. In effect, it has emboldened far right activists to push increasing homophobic and transphobic rhetoric into the mainstream. Take the below tweet, from an early 2023 drag show where neo-Nazis joined with anti-transgender protesters, with the neo-Nazis demanding "Weimar Solutions" to what is perceived as "Weimar Problems."
"Weimar Problems call for Weimar Solutions" is now a familiar phrase to those who monitor the far-right, it is an expression advocating for an extermination of queer people via genocide. Posie Parker facilitates the voices of these people, whether she likes it or not. It is not simply a coincidence that neo-Nazis have started to appear at her rallies, like they did in Melbourne or in Auckland (see an image from below). Even if she tries to disavow them as supporters (she has weakly tried to distance herself from them), they are still supporting her. As an aside, and not central to this essay, but if the cause that you are promoting is being supported by neo-Nazis, would that not serve as an opportunity to re-examine your own political opinions? I know that if neo-nazis came out to support me in what I'm doing I would pause and take stock. Parker's rhetoric about what constitutes a woman through a biological determinist approach opens the pipeline for these far-right supporters to recruit more supporters and advance their own agenda.
However, I don't think Posie Parker has disavower the far right. In her interview with Kim Hill, Parker discussed how billionaires are funding a lot of the transgender movement (this is also not true, if you're a trans organisation who's sitting on billions let me know), but when pressed on the issue she was evasive. This is a dog whistle. A simple search on twitter reveals that the billionaires these anti-transgender activists are all Jewish, such as George Soros, and have all been implicated in other antisemitic conspiracies. Parker could've just said that (((billionaires))) are funding the transgender lobby and wore her antisemitism on her (tomato-stained) sleeve. It also doesn't help her cause that one of her early twitter photos was a barbie in a SS uniform (pictured below).
What's the pipeline anyway?
There is a symbiotic relationship between anti-transgender activists and neo-Nazis: neo-Nazis amplify the messages of anti-transgender activists online, spreading their message, and the neo-Nazis use the divisions this creates in society as an opportunity to recruit. If you look at any far-right twitter account you will see a smattering of anti-trans messaging, in amongst islamophobia, antisemitism, climate change denial, COVID-19 denial, etc. The algorithms creates an environment where even if someone was only interested in one of those causes may be exposed to all of these arguments, creating an increasingly radicalised political perspective that can easily be classified as far-right or fascist.
Furthermore, since these anti-transgender activists identify as feminists, it gives the far-right a greater perceived moral authority: it creates the illusion that the far-right is feminist and is standing up for women. Nothing can be further from the truth.
Anti-transgender principles are a key component of fascist ideology
To firmly place the contemporary rise of anti-transgender political action, we must look at the origins of national socialism and fascist thought: 100 years ago in the Weimar Republic, post-WW1 Germany. Many societies experienced significant change in gender roles following World War One, and this was no different in the Weimar Republic. Whilst transgender people could apply for a transexual certificate as early as 1908 (the certificate prohibited police officers from arresting those who were dressed in a manner different than their sex as classified at birth), it became more common practice to apply for them in 1920-30 (Sutton, 2012). This was a golden era in Germany: a time when culture, music, art, film, fashion exploded, as well as a move toward Scientism for those who were queer - reframing their existence through a scientific approach - and the growth of sexology.
Take, for example, the Institut für Sexualwissenschaft - the Institute for Sexual Science. Opening in 1919 in Berlin, the Institute conducted a wide range of academic studies relating to queer people, as well as a type of early gender-affirming surgery, counselling, and employed a number of queer people as staff. Early fascists thought that the institute-and what it represented-were forms of moral deprivation: a sign that the German nation had been corrupted by outside forces, and that it was in part a Jewish plot to reduce the birth-rate of the nation (some of those responsible for setting it up were Jewish).
As the Nazi Party gained increasing support, attacks on the staff started to occur, followed by a much publicised and written about burning of books by the Nazis. The Institute was eventually closed, and the names of patients of the Institute were seized and used to round-up queer people and send them to concentration camps, where they either died or suffered for years as victims of medical experiments or slave labour. This anti-queer position (and in particular anti-trans position) was enshrined into law in the Third Reich as the regime attempted to remove the "moral perversion" from the country. At the heart of fascist ideology is a view of a natural hierarchal order, where men are the head of the household and women are home-makers and there is no room for deviations to this order.
What does this all mean?
It is hard not to see time repeat itself. We are living in times of great economic peril, with a highly fractured population which is fuelled through disinformation and big-tech. Will we see the events of the Weimar Republic repeat in the contemporary period? It's impossible to predict exactly, but I hope that institutions are strong enough to protect hard-fought civil rights. If they're not, than queer people will be at substantial risk. Trans rights have always been the thing edge of queer rights: once trans rights are curtailed I can guarantee they will also come for gays and lesbians.
It is ironic then that anti-transgender activists like Ani O'Brien say that they are lesbians who are concerned that their lesbian identity is being eroded. Imagine how much your identity will be eroded when the far-right is in power. I know that O'Brien has said that she's not anti-transgender, but considering she supports Posie Parker's position of calling trans women "men in dresses" I would classify this as anti-transgender.
So what's next? Fascists and national socialists will continue to hijack the "gender critical" cult to push for further reforms in establishing an ethno-nationalist political program. In Aotearoa, we will see these anti-transgender movements merge with racist groups who oppose co-governance (we've already started to see this). Those who used to spend time protesting COVID-19 health measures will fold into these groups. In the background, the far-right will continue to radicalise them to their fascist political program. It's likely we'll see a formal institutional infiltration of these fascists/TERFs (in Aotearoa we are already seeing far-right activists being selected for the National and ACT parties), much like in the Weimar Republic. Alternatively, we'll see terror groups like Action Zealandia coordinate a successful action.
In sum, the relationship between anti-transgender activists and neo-Nazis is clear: neo-Nazis are using anti-transgender activists as a way for them to implement a fascist political agenda through a veneer of feminism. Anti-transgender activists offer legitimacy to neo-Nazis, but it is deeply ironic that they allow this, as it is ultimately women (both cisgender and transgender) who will suffer if fascists gain power.
Post-script: I know that Posie Parker has threatened defamation suits for those who lump her in with the Nazis and National Socialists. However, I am at pains to point out that this article and the views herein are protected under the Education and Training Act 2020, where academic staff and students are specially protected to "to put forward new ideas, and to state controversial or unpopular opinions." This essay clearly falls within this understanding of protected speech.
Further reading: