Last Updated on January 18, 2020
A subdivision of the Human Rights Campaign posted internet memes with a statistic, finding that only 2% of straight men would date a transgender woman, urging straight men to become more open minded in who they dated.
The meme posted by the Trans Rights Campaign says: “98% of straight men are unwilling to date trans women because of hatred,” according to Pulpit and Pen.
Finishing with “This has to change.”
Although the meme went viral, some anonymous social media commenters questioned the veracity of the meme given its demands.
In spite of the meme’s demands to fight bigotry related to straight men’s unwillingness to sleep with transgender people, some activists have made similar demands.
This girl sitting next to me was arguing with her friend that refusing to date trans people is transphobia!
There is still hope in the world.
— Nina Satragno (@nsatragno) March 14, 2018
That whole scene is such a transphobic and biphobic mess. Bisexuality isn’t binary, and saying being pansexual means you would date someone who’s transitioning is the weirdest fucking thing. Refusing to date someone because they’re trans is transphobia my dudes. Not bisexuality.
— sucker (@iamsuckeriam) October 6, 2019
refusing to date trans ppl is not "a preference", it's blatant transphobia
— alejandra (@lesbianaff) September 27, 2015
However, according to Pulpit and Pen:
However, that same study showed that only 11.5% of gay men would consider dating a “trans” person. By this logic, roughly 89% of gay men are also hateful bigots.
The parent of the Trans Rights Campaign, the Human Rights Campaign, explains that:
The Human Rights Campaign represents a force of more than 3 million members and supporters nationwide. As the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer civil rights organization, HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are ensured of their basic equal rights, and can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.
According to the Human Rights Campaign mission statement:
The Human Rights Campaign and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation together serve as America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve LGBTQ equality. By inspiring and engaging individuals and communities, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBTQ people and realize a world that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.
The Human Rights Campaign envisions a world where lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people are ensured equality and embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.