We've had a lively discussion in the "Gender elevated over sex is sexism" thread - thanks to the OP posted by @Philosophim - I invite you to read the thread for some background.

My position has been that gender identity is something formed during fetal development, during the differentiation and organization of the brain during the third trimester of pregnancy.

People do not "decide" to become transgender - they are born that way.

There has been reference to the "trans ideology." Transgenderism is not an ideology - which we may define as a set of beliefs or ideas shaping a view of the world - but transgenderism is not about what the transgender person "believes" but rather who they are - their internal identity, processed by the brain.

In advancing their right to be their authentic selves, we might say the ideology that they do advance is one that respects and protects human rights.

By contrast, the word ideology better reflects the anti-transgender position. People opposed often have very rigid concepts of male and female, and often their opposition is tied to a resentment of having to recognize anything outside of their narrow paradigms.

The problem with this is that ideology unchecked may lead to the gutting of basic human rights. Consider the man in the video below. He is very angry. He’s speaking on stage at Turning Point’s (founded by Charlie Kirk, now run by his widow Erica) Americafest. He cites Charlie as a martyr, then scapegoats an entire community, cloaked in a warped version of Christianity. His speech is chilling - he calls for rounding up transgender persons - and yet earned him a standing ovation.

He says (or rather snarls) -

“The person who pulled the trigger (on Charlie) is part of the demonic transgender ideology that warps the minds of our young children, that poisons them, that is antithetical to creation itself … God doesn’t make mistakes. Transgenderism is a lie from the pit of hell … and I’m sick of seeing transgender violence and murderers in my country … what a horrid and wretched ideology … it’s time to kick in doors, come on FBI, do some door-kicking, round them up.”

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSi3WJiEewU/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==