Fascism and transphobia go together, but the fight against authoritarianism is bigger than LGBTQIA+ rights. From Russia’s influence on anti-LGBTQIA+ policies in Hungary to the war in Ukraine, right-wing regimes use attacks on marginalized groups to gain control. In the U.S., the GOP is leading attacks on human rights, from rolling back civil rights protections to restricting reproductive freedoms and targeting LGBTQIA+ people. This is why trans advocacy groups, pro-democracy movements, and human rights defenders are joining forces. Defending trans rights is about protecting democracy, freedom, and rights for everyone.
Fighting Fascism Means Fighting Transphobia
Fascism thrives on control. It dictates who is allowed to exist freely and who must conform to rigid hierarchies. Trans people, by our very existence, challenge these structures, which is why they are among the first targets of authoritarian movements. The fight against fascism and the fight for trans rights are deeply connected. If one falls, so does the other.
Why Trans People Are Pushed Out of Right-Wing Politics
Right-wing politics, especially in its more authoritarian forms, depends on enforcing strict, binary categories. It demands clear definitions of man and woman, citizen and foreigner, traditional and degenerate. Trans people disrupt these categories. That makes them a threat to right-wing power.
Some trans people initially align with conservative politics due to economic beliefs, religious views, or a desire for stability. However, right-wing movements do not simply tolerate them. They actively work to erase them. Across the world, right-wing leaders have made transphobia central to their agendas by banning healthcare, restricting gender expression, and criminalizing trans identities.
This follows a historical pattern. Fascist movements sometimes use marginalized groups for their own gain but discard them when politically convenient. Gay conservatives in the past allied with authoritarian regimes, only to be persecuted later. The same fate awaits any trans person who thinks they have a place in a movement that ultimately seeks their erasure.
The Connection Between Trans Rights, Ukraine, and Global Authoritarianism
The war in Ukraine is not just about land. It is about the future of democracy and human rights in Europe and beyond. Russia's invasion is an attack on a country that has moved closer to democratic values and away from authoritarian rule.
Putin's Russia positions itself as the defender of "traditional values" against the so-called "decadence" of the West. Russian propaganda regularly demonizes LGBTQIA+ people, especially trans people, as symbols of Western moral decay. This is the same rhetoric echoed by right-wing movements in the United States, Canada, and Europe. The message is clear: trans rights represent a threat to the authoritarian order they seek to enforce.
When the United States and its allies backpedal on support for Ukraine, they are not just enabling a military takeover. They are retreating from the global fight against fascism. The same forces that attack Ukraine's sovereignty are the ones pushing anti-trans laws, restricting bodily autonomy, and rolling back civil rights across the world.
The Spread of Russian-Backed Anti-LGBTQIA+ Policies
Russia has made state-sponsored homophobia part of its ideological export. Countries within its sphere of influence have adopted similar anti-LGBTQIA+ policies, following Russia's lead.
Hungary, under Viktor Orbán, has aggressively dismantled LGBTQIA+ rights. In March 2025, Hungary passed a law banning Pride events and authorizing facial recognition technology to identify and fine attendees. This law builds on previous policies restricting LGBTQIA+ visibility, all justified under "child protection" narratives.
Russia itself has escalated its anti-LGBTQIA+ policies. In 2023, its Supreme Court officially banned the "LGBT movement" as extremist. This has led to increased persecution, criminal charges, and violence against LGBTQIA+ people.
Other Eastern European countries, including Moldova and Georgia, have also experienced shifts toward anti-LGBTQIA+ policies under Russian influence. As Russia tightens its grip, it uses queerphobia as a tool of control.
Why Canada's Role Matters
The relationship between Canada and the United States has always been a balancing act. When the U.S. shifts toward isolationism or authoritarian-leaning policies, Canada must decide whether to resist or follow suit.
Canada has been seen as a relative safe haven for trans people, especially as U.S. states implement anti-trans laws. However, right-wing movements in Canada are already adopting American-style attacks on trans rights, including efforts to ban healthcare, restrict education, and criminalize gender expression. If the United States weakens its stance on democracy and human rights abroad, Canada will face growing internal and external pressures to do the same.
The Bigger Picture
Fascism does not stop at borders. The forces attacking trans rights are the same ones attacking democracy itself.
- Trans people are one of the first targets of fascist movements because they represent personal freedom and self-determination.
- The war in Ukraine is a frontline battle between democracy and authoritarian control. Its outcome will shape global politics.
- When the United States weakens its stance on Ukraine, it signals a retreat from democracy, which directly affects human rights, including trans rights.
- Canada stands at a crossroads. Whether it resists or mirrors U.S. reactionary policies will determine the future of trans rights and democracy in North America.
Transphobia is not just a cultural issue. It is a political weapon used by fascists to justify oppression. Fighting for trans rights is fighting for democracy. The choice is simple. Either we defend human rights and freedom, or we allow reactionary forces to dismantle them, piece by piece.