The era of ascendant transgender ideology in the United States is over. This is not to say that transgender ideology has been defeated or has gone away. Much work remains on many levels. But, at least as measured by certain legal landmarks, the ascendancy of trans ideology in the US has ended. There are hopeful signs that it has even begun to recede. This is indicated by several recent developments in litigation and legislation.
In the US, legal change can be effected in a number of ways. The most obvious, of course, is through legislation: the enactment of legal codes restricting or compelling certain behaviours. But a time-honoured means of effecting legal change in the US is through private litigation, the effects of which ripple throughout the country. This is especially the case in areas such as personal injury, products liability and medical malpractice law. A February 2026 case in New York – in which a plaintiff successfully sued her psychologist and surgeon, resulting in an award of $2 million – illustrates the point. More important than the monetary judgment, however, is the signal that this case sends to physicians and hospitals throughout the United States.
