One year ago this week, I was targeted by homophobic, transphobic and far right groups, figureheads, and “media figures,” from across North America. Because of my inclusion, as a trans woman, in an International Women’s Day campaign by Hershey’s Canada.

I was inundated with hate mail and online harassment. My privacy was violated. There was such a real risk to my safety that the company provided private security that stayed outside my home 24/7 and accompanied me everywhere I went for a full six days. It was, simply put, a nightmare.

And it was certainly not the first time.

For the past five years, I’ve been on the frontlines of the fight for queer and trans rights in an era of resurgent hate. As a recurring voice in Canadian media, and an organizer helping build coalitions, mobilize communities, and pressure governments to act, I’ve been fighting this fight — and I’ve been targeted time and again by the far-right as a result.

While I’m proud of my work, and of my community’s mobilization, we are being outmaneuvered by the far-right at every turn.

We’ve lost in two provinces — New Brunswick and Saskatchewan, where trans students are being forced back into the closet by regressive government policies. We might lose in a third, Alberta, where Premier Danielle Smith is advancing the most draconian anti-queer policies Canada has seen in decades. These policies will force trans students back into the closet and interfere in evidence-based healthcare.

The federal Conservatives too have begun leaning-in on anti-trans rhetoric, with Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre speaking in favour of banning trans women from women’s spaces, and banning gender-affirming healthcare for minors.

When presented with anti-trans resolutions at the Conservative Party’s biennial convention in September, members voted in favour with overwhelming majorities. And, the only openly gay members of the Conservative caucus, Melissa Lantsman and Eric Duncan, have turned their backs on us, and our rights.

Hate is rising, political leaders are openly targeting us, and our community is living in increasing fear — both for our physical safety, and fear of even further regression on our rights and freedoms.

Even CSIS is warning about the threat of “extreme violence” targeting our community. We’re up against the behemoth of the far-right — a deep-pocketed, social media-savvy organizing machine — and it feels like few on the left are paying attention.

Or does nobody care — or care enough — that it’s trans people under attack?

To be fair, there are shining examples of progressives jumping in to defend queer and trans rights — but they are the exception, not the rule. And I can’t help but think it’s because progressives — for all our intersectional analysis — are underestimating the threat of anti-trans hate not only to the rights of 2SLGBTQIA+ people, but to our broader movement for a more free, equal and socially just Canada.

Anti-trans hate is an existential threat to progressive movements and causes. It is a tool through which far-right groups are radicalizing Canadians into conspiracy movements, pushing a political agenda with staggering implications to women’s rights, workers rights and anti-racism efforts while propagating a culture war that will sow division and fuel anger towards marginalized people. Anti-trans hate is the tip of the spear; it’s time we wake up to what’s at stake.

Conservative premiers are using anti-LGBTQ+ policies as an excuse to override charter-protected rights and get around the courts. If they can do it to trans people, it makes it easier to override the rights of another group.

Normalizing the flippant use of the notwithstanding clause threatens the rights of women, workers and racialized communities.

Attacks on gender affirming healthcare breaks new ground in social conservatives’ goal to restrict abortion access. These bans on gender affirming care are being pushed by powerful anti-abortion groups like the Campaign Life Coalition for one reason: they know that if gender affirming care can be banned, it would be easier to ban abortion.

The way the far-right attacks trans people and our allies through hate and vitriol threatens our democracy — if they can bully one marginalized community out of public life, what does it say about the strength of our democratic institutions?

If they can do it to us, they can do it to others.

Already, some parents are scared to speak up for their trans kids. Speaking out makes you a target.

Many of my queer and trans peers, seeing how those of us who speak up in Canadian media are targeted with hate mail and death threats, have decided to put their mental health and safety first. In this environment, who can blame them?

This “gender ideology” facade turns parents against teachers and sets the stage for conservative governments to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in schools, both for LGBTQIA+ people and racialized communities.

And, all of this is a convenient — but impossible to ignore — distraction from Conservative premiers who are unable or unwilling to address the housing crisis, protect workers wages, take action on climate change, or fix our public education and public healthcare systems.

While attacking trans people may be a convenient distraction for conservative politicians, this isn’t ground we should, or ethically can, cede to the far-right. The stakes are too high not to engage.

Anti-trans hate is a Trojan horse assault on progressive causes and movements. This is about so much more than trans people’s rights — we are just a convenient target — a means to an end for a far-right movement working to rewrite our social and political landscape in their image.

Queer and trans people, and our allies, are organizing. But we can’t do it alone. It’s been 20 years since our last major battle, the fight for marriage equality. When we fought for equal marriage rights, we won in part because of our allies in labour, feminist and progressive movements who tapped in. People recognized 2SLGBTQIA+ rights are integral to the more inclusive, equitable and socially just future progressives are fighting for.

Right now though, our movement is struggling. The far-right has simplistic slogans and isn’t afraid to use morally repugnant tactics to win. I hate to admit it, but we queers don’t have the resources, expertise or reach to win alone.

I am pleading for progressive leaders and organizations to tap in once again. We need your help. If we lose the fight for trans rights, the far-right won’t stop there. Unless we want to see every win we’ve had in the last generation jeopardized, we must draw a line in the sand.

Queer Momentum is stepping up to fight back, but we can’t do it alone. Join us and help unite progressive movements to defend the dignity, freedom and rights of our queer and transgender siblings.

Because, as the old labour movement saying goes, an injury to one is an injury to all.