Former US president Barack Obama has shared his advice on how to change hearts and minds when it comes to trans rights, urging people to lead with empathy rather than confrontation.
Speaking on Marc Maron’s WTF Podcast, the 44th president reflected on how his “old-fashioned” values shaped the way he approached discussions on gender and identity — both during and after his time in office.
“It’s Tough Being a Teenager”
Obama said his approach to talking about trans issues always began from a place of kindness and understanding, not criticism.
“If I talked about trans issues, I wasn’t talking down to people and saying, ‘oh, you’re a bigot’,” Obama explained.
“I’d say, ‘You know what? It’s tough being a teenager. Let’s treat all kids decently. Why would we want to see kids bullied or shamed? What if it was our kid?’”
He added that such conversations, rooted in shared values, are often more effective at inspiring reflection than divisive rhetoric.
“Those values are important,” he said.
Obama on Empathy and Role Models
Obama’s comments follow his July interview, in which he revealed that one of his “role models” growing up was a gay college professor who taught him empathy and kindness — lessons he says shaped both his politics and worldview.
The former president has long advocated for LGBTQ+ inclusion, becoming the first sitting US president to publicly support marriage equality during his second term.
Trans Rights Under Attack
Obama’s call for empathy comes as his successor, Donald Trump, continues to centre his political agenda on anti-trans rhetoric.
Since returning to the White House for a second term, Trump has issued a series of executive orders targeting transgender Americans — including restrictions on gender-affirming healthcare, education, and inclusion in sport.
During a meeting this month with Canadian prime minister Mark Carney, who has a non-binary child, Trump mocked trans people and ridiculed inclusive policies.
“We have strong borders,” Trump said. “We have no men in women’s sports. We’re not going to take your child away and change the sex of your child.”
In January, GLAAD (the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) warned that Trump’s “obsession” with anti-trans policies would “come at a cost for every American,” pointing to rising discrimination and violence faced by the trans community.
Obama’s Message: Lead With Humanity
While Obama did not comment directly on Trump’s policies, his advice carried a clear subtext: that progress requires empathy, not antagonism.
By reframing conversations around shared human experiences — particularly the universal desire to protect and support young people — he suggested that lasting change on trans rights will come from understanding, not outrage.
“If it was our kid,” Obama said, “we’d want them to be treated with decency.”
