The Real Gender Binary

And the Path to Resistance

Trump 2.0 wasted no time reshaping the world with a shotgun blast of executive orders, each aimed at reinforcing privilege while pushing the marginalized further into the shadows. The recent order defining sex as a rigid binary of male and female struck a direct blow at trans and nonbinary people, erasing us with the stroke of a pen. Our rights, our protections, gone.

Right now, the world of trans and nonbinary folks feels small—too small to push back against a system designed to isolate and conquer. The far-right’s divide-and-conquer strategy has long splintered marginalized groups, pulling friends and allies apart to weaken us. But this moment demands a reframing of the fight: this battle is not men versus women, or even male versus female. That war is last century’s story. The real gender binary today draws different battle lines—and opens the door to powerful resistance.

The real gender binary pits “real manly men”—cisgender, heterosexual, white, Christian nationalist men—against everyone else. These men hoard power, demand deference, and gatekeep leadership while ensuring those outside their ranks fight over scraps. They dictate who gets to succeed, who gets to speak, and who gets to exist safely. Their patriarchy isn’t just about controlling women; it’s a more generalized sexism. It’s about controlling anyone who doesn’t conform to, or bow down to their idealized masculinity. They build walls, expel interlopers, and mock challengers from a pedestal of entitlement and fear.

If this is the real gender binary—real manly men versus everyone else—then suddenly, trans and nonbinary people aren’t so small. We’re part of a massive coalition of “everyone else.” And within that realization lies the seed of resistance.

Building a Coalition of “Everyone Else”

Large coalitions have struggled historically because we’ve been pitted against each other, forced to argue over limited resources and whose suffering matters most. But what if we did something radical? What if we came together, took a deep breath, and triaged our pain?

Imagine a coalition where we focus our resources on the most targeted groups at any given moment. We don’t abandon our own fights; we simply prioritize. If Black trans women are bearing the brunt of violence and systemic oppression, we rally behind them. When immigrant communities are under attack, we shift our focus. It’s not about erasing anyone’s struggles—it’s about leveraging our collective strength to protect the most vulnerable among us.

This kind of coalition-building demands patience, humility, and an understanding of intersectionality. Intersectionality teaches us that no form of oppression exists in isolation. Racism, sexism, transphobia, classism—they’re all interconnected. So is antisemitism, anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim, and so on. A Black Jewish trans woman who is also a sex worker embodies every threat “real manly men” fear: she defies their binary, challenges their racial hierarchy, and undermines their heterosexual ideals. She is, quite literally, everything they seek to erase.

Lessons from Myxococcus xanthus

Slime mold, Myxococcus xanthus, offers a surprising model for resistance. These tiny rod-shaped bacteria eat their way across the ground. But when food is scarce, they merge into a single organism, a larger entity capable of covering more ground and finding food to sustain the group. When the crisis passes, the mold disperses back into individual forms, each one stronger and better positioned for survival.

What if we adopted a similar strategy? When one part of our coalition is under attack, we come together as one, pooling resources and energy to protect and uplift. When the immediate crisis passes, we disperse—but we stay connected, ready to reassemble whenever and wherever we’re needed. This kind of fluid, intersectional movement allows us to be both powerful and adaptable, capable of responding to the ever-shifting tactics of those in power.

The Path Forward

The executive order defining sex as a rigid binary is just the beginning of Trump 2.0’s campaign to reshape society to serve real, manly men. But we can resist—not as isolated individuals or groups, but as a unified force. By reframing the fight around this real gender binary, we see ourselves as part of something far larger.

The path forward won’t be easy. It will require setting aside differences, acknowledging the intersections of our struggles, and focusing our energy on protecting the most vulnerable. This unity demands discipline, patience, and an open heart willing to learn from others. But if we can do this—if we can come together as “everyone else”—we will have the strength to stand against the grip of the “real manly men.”

So, let’s begin. Right now. If, like me, you’ve been marginalized by systems built to serve real manly men, start by reaching out. Connect with your friends, communities, and support networks. Come together and identify how your group’s challenges and resources overlap with others. Build bridges. Share resources. Stand in solidarity.

Keep coming together. Please. And please keep merging, supporting, and strengthening. This is how we grow powerful. This is how we resist.

In this fight, we are not small. We are a vast and mighty legion. And together, we are ready.