US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) has delivered a heartfelt message of support for transgender young people, assuring them they are not to blame for the political hostility they’re facing.
The Democratic representative for New York, long known for her vocal advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights, took to TikTok to speak directly to trans youth amid a growing wave of anti-trans rhetoric from Donald Trump’s administration.
Responding to a question from a follower asking, “What do you have to say to trans youth right now?”, AOC said:
“I know this time is terrifying for so many people, and it feels hard to know where your place is, especially in politics, where it feels like people in both parties are blaming you for everything that’s happening. I just want you to know that they couldn’t be more wrong.”
“You are fine just the way you are, and, in a time when it’s hard to know who stands with you, I want you to know that I stand with you. And everyone who wants to be mean shouldn’t be mean around me.”</
@aocMy message for trans youth in what feels like a terrifying moment: I stand with you. I’ve got your back. AOC Continues Her Fierce LGBTQ+ Advocacy
AOC’s message comes at a time when trans and non-binary people, especially young people, are increasingly being used as scapegoats in political debates, particularly by right-wing lawmakers pushing anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.
She has previously spoken out against trans bans in sports, warning that such policies could lead to invasive genital inspections for all athletes, and has slammed so-called “toilet bans”, saying they endanger the safety of all women and girls.
AOC on Real Threats to Women
Drawing on her own lived experience, AOC has emphasised that LGBTQ+ people are not a threat to women, challenging harmful narratives often pushed in conservative media.
“When you actually look at who is committing this abuse, it’s majority straight men,” she said, recalling her first encounter with sexual harassment as a young teenager.
“Many of these disgusting and insinuating attacks on trans and LGBT people are actually projections of what predatory cisgender, and often straight, men do when left in the presence of women.”
AOC’s comments reinforce her long-standing commitment to defending marginalised communities, especially those facing the brunt of political scapegoating.
