The Global Truth About Transgender People: A Human Rights Report (2025)

The Global Truth About Transgender People: A Human Rights Report (2025)

Compiled by Rev. Paula Josephine Sadler, Universal Rainbow Faith

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Introduction

This document offers a comprehensive truth report on the lived realities of transgender people—past and present—across global and national landscapes. It combines historical oppression, modern medical science, global human rights data, and an honest assessment of the growing divide between inclusive and authoritarian societies. It also reflects on how the United States—once seen as a leader in democracy—is regressing into a fragmented, hostile environment for transgender and gender-diverse individuals, echoing the worst human rights abuses of other oppressive regimes.

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Historical Context: The Oppression of Identity

The United States has a long and violent history of persecuting minority groups: Indigenous genocide, chattel slavery, Jim Crow laws, gender-based oppression, and LGBTQ+ criminalization.

Transgender people have existed across every ancient culture: Native American Two-Spirit, Hijra of India, fa'afafine of Samoa, and more.

Despite this, Western colonialism and religious fundamentalism enforced rigid binaries and erased sacred roles of gender-diverse people.

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Modern Medical and Psychological Consensus

Transgender identity is not a mental illness. It is a natural variation of human experience.

Major organizations including the AMA, APA, AAP, WHO, and WPATH affirm:

Gender-affirming care is evidence-based and medically necessary.

Puberty blockers are safe, reversible, and reduce suicide risk in trans youth.

Hormone therapy and surgical options improve mental health and quality of life.

Over 50 years of peer-reviewed research supports gender-affirming medical and social transition.

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Dangerous and Hostile Regions for Transgender People (2025)

Globally Unsafe Countries:

Russia – bans all gender-affirming care, revokes legal recognition, and criminalizes expression.

Iran, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Uganda, Afghanistan – impose prison, lashes, or execution for gender non-conformity.

Egypt, Chechnya, parts of Indonesia – routine police brutality, public torture, and mob violence.

United States: A Country Divided

27+ U.S. states have banned or criminalized trans youth care.

Many states allow or require the outing of trans students, deny pronoun use, and ban medical providers from offering care.

Parental rights are stripped. Children are forcibly detransitioned.

This mirrors the surveillance and moral policing of authoritarian regimes like Russia and Uganda.

Examples of Hostile U.S. States:

Florida, Texas, Missouri, Alabama, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Idaho, and others.

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Safest and Most Affirming Countries

Countries that lead in trans rights also lead in education, democracy, and social health:

Canada – Free care, federal protections, broad social acceptance.

New Zealand – High inclusion, strong public education, accessible healthcare.

Netherlands – Pioneer of the Dutch protocol for youth care.

Sweden, Germany, Iceland, Spain, Argentina, Malta – All offer streamlined legal recognition, healthcare access, and cultural inclusion.

These countries consistently rank high in:

Human Development Index (HDI)

Education levels

Gender equality

Low crime and corruption

Life satisfaction and trust in institutions

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Why the Divide Exists: Education, Culture, and Leadership

Affirming societies share common values:

Education that teaches diversity and critical thinking

Secular governance that respects individual rights

Healthcare as a human right

Legal systems that protect the vulnerable

Media literacy that combats fear and misinformation

Hostile regimes and states share the opposite:

Censorship and propaganda

Religious extremism dictating policy

Misuse of science to justify hate

Corrupt or authoritarian leadership

Trans people become scapegoats when societies are collapsing under fear, inequality, and repression.

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The U.S. Crisis of Freedom and Leadership

The United States was founded on the promise of freedom from religious persecution, individual liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Yet in 2025:

It criminalizes parents for supporting their children’s gender identity.

It forces children to detransition and teachers to misgender.

It permits states to act as moral police against families.

It aligns with Russia, Uganda, and Iran more than Canada, New Zealand, or Sweden.

This is not the land of the free. It is a nation in spiritual crisis.

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Call to Action

We must:

Tell the truth about what is happening.

Protect the sacred identity of all people.

Defend evidence-based science.

Stand in spiritual, legal, and cultural solidarity.

Demand a return to leadership based on compassion, truth, and freedom.

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“Transgender rights are human rights. And human rights are spiritual rights.”

This document may be used for education, activism, faith-based outreach, and policy advocacy.

Prepared and affirmed by: Rev. Paula Josephine Sadler

Founder, Universal Rainbow Faith Church

May 2025