In the aftermath of Donald Trump’s return to the White House, a growing number of women, queer, and transgender individuals are arming themselves in fear of escalating threats and violence. The president-elect’s campaign was marred by misogynistic and anti-trans rhetoric, which has only amplified since his victory, prompting some from marginalized communities to take their safety into their own hands.
Across the nation, left-leaning gun clubs are reporting dramatic increases in membership, primarily driven by women and LGBTQ+ people seeking firearms training and concealed carry permits. The Liberal Gun Club says about half of the thousands of new member requests they’ve fielded since the election have come from women, with queer and trans individuals making up another significant portion.
‘We Need to Protect Ourselves’
“I am thinking about carrying every day,” confessed Ashley Parten, a 38-year-old Black, bisexual woman from Georgia who purchased stun guns for herself and her family members post-election. “We all feel the need to make sure that we’re aware of our surroundings and protect ourselves in general, but even more so now.”
Parten’s concerns are shared by many in the LGBTQ+ community, who point to the transphobic policies and messaging pushed by Trump and his allies. The president-elect has vowed to ban gender-affirming care for minors and exclude transgender women from women’s sports, while Republican leaders like House Speaker Mike Johnson have targeted trailblazing trans officials such as Congresswoman Sarah McBride.
Our identities are politicized every single day.
– Ashley Parten
For some, like veteran and longtime Republican Jessie McGrath, Trump’s attacks on the trans community were the final straw, pushing her to switch parties and vote for Kamala Harris. “Government getting involved in making healthcare decisions is something that I never thought I would see the Republican party doing,” McGrath lamented. Now, the 63-year-old splits her time between Los Angeles and Omaha, and plans to take a group of friends shooting for self-defense training.
A False Sense of Security?
However, while many marginalized individuals report feeling safer with a gun, research suggests that firearms may actually increase risks rather than offer meaningful protection. A Harvard University analysis found that despite rising gun ownership among women, it remains relatively rare for them to actually use a firearm in self-defense. Furthermore, a UC San Francisco study determined that women with access to guns are three times more likely to be murdered than those without.
Experts caution that reactionary gun purchases, often made by those with minimal training, can create a false sense of security while introducing new dangers. “If you can’t dry-fire at least once a week and go out to the range once a month on average, you’re likely to become more of a liability to yourself and everyone around you in the event that you ever needed a gun,” warned Tacticool Girlfriend, a transgender firearms YouTuber.
Training as an Alternative
For those determined to enhance their personal safety, proper training and judgment are vital. Firearms experts advise that before investing in a gun, individuals should consider lower-risk alternatives like self-defense classes, martial arts training, and learning to effectively deploy non-lethal tools such as pepper spray. LA Progressive Shooters, a gun club focused on serving BIPOC and LGBTQ+ members, has seen enrollment for their beginner pistol course explode, selling out months in advance.
Guns are not going to answer most of people’s problems, even in the realm of self-defense. Training to use and carry pepper spray and studying martial arts will always be far more practical and useful in everyday self-defense scenarios.
– Tacticool Girlfriend
As America’s culture wars escalate and previously fringe anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-feminist ideologies creep into the mainstream, more marginalized individuals may feel compelled to take up arms. But while understandable, this impulse is unlikely to quell their valid fears and may only serve to endanger them further. Perhaps the real solution lies not in meeting perceived threats with firepower, but in addressing the roots of hate and violence tearing at our social fabric.
