Trans Tactics: Sun Tzu’s Guide to Defending Our Lives: Part 5
“In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.” – Sun Tzu, The Art of War
If it feels like the world is on fire right now, you’re not imagining things. Anti-trans legislation. Healthcare bans. Online harassment campaigns. Mainstream media “debates” about our right to exist.
It’s chaos. But it’s not the end.
For trans advocates, chaos isn’t just danger; it’s an opening. A moment when people are paying attention. A moment when the cracks in oppressive systems become easier to see and easier to break.
Welcome to Part 5 of the Trans Tactics series, where we turn backlash into momentum and show how to find opportunity even when the world feels unrecognizable.
Chaos Is a Weapon, But It Cuts Both Ways
When anti-trans forces flood legislatures with bills or flood timelines with hate, they’re not just trying to win on policy. They’re trying to exhaust us. They’re hoping to overwhelm us into silence.
But here’s the secret: chaos makes them predictable. And predictable enemies are vulnerable.
Every fire they start draws attention, attention that trans voices can use. Every outrageous bill sets the stage for national headlines. Every backlash reveals the fear behind their bigotry.
Real-World Example: The Tennessee Drag Ban Blowback
When Tennessee passed its now-infamous drag performance ban, it sparked national outcry, not just from activists, but from artists, companies, and everyday citizens. Drag performers organized mass shows, courts overturned parts of the law, and support for queer rights surged in unexpected places.
They tried to create chaos. We made it theater, and turned the spotlight back on them.
Where to Find Opportunity in the Wreckage
Chaos isn’t just noise. It’s a sign that systems are unstable. And unstable systems are ripe for transformation. Here’s where to look:
Public Attention
When chaos hits, media attention follows. Use it.
- Write op-eds.
- Pitch your story to local outlets.
- Share real trans voices instead of letting bad-faith actors dominate coverage.
If the media’s going to cover “both sides,” make damn sure we’re on one of them.
Community Mobilization
When people are scared, they’re also more likely to act.
- Organize teach-ins, protests, and donation drives.
- Launch emergency funds or mutual aid.
- Call in allies and institutions, churches, schools, and unions that haven’t stepped up yet.
Outrage gets people in the room. Strategy keeps them there.
Legislative Leverage
Even in chaos, some lawmakers are paying attention. And they’re watching how loud, coordinated, and consistent we are.
- Flood phone lines and inboxes.
- Share scripts, contact lists, and clear asks.
- Use backlash to demand protective bills, not just defensive actions.
Backlash can make neutrality impossible, and that’s when people start choosing sides.
The Emotional Cost: Managing Burnout in the Storm
Let’s be honest, this is exhausting. Strategizing in chaos doesn’t mean ignoring your limits. It means knowing when to act, when to rest, and when to pass the mic.
Tips to avoid burnout while staying activated:
- Rotate roles in organizing spaces.
- Unplug when needed, without guilt.
- Build trust in your community, not pressure to “do it all.”
Surviving is still winning.
Ally Action: Use Your Calm as a Resource
If you’re cis, white, or otherwise shielded from the direct line of fire, your relative calm is a resource. Use it strategically.
- Handle logistics so trans organizers can breathe.
- Call out bigotry at your workplace, your church, and your dinner table.
- Speak up on our behalf when we are too tired to do so ourselves.
Chaos doesn’t affect everyone equally. Leverage your safety to protect those most at risk.
Real-World Example: Florida’s Education Crackdown
When Florida passed “Don’t Say Gay” laws, it created chaos for queer youth but also sparked underground networks of resistance. Libraries started stealth support groups. Teachers formed anonymous coalitions. Students wrote op-eds and staged walkouts.
The law created fear. But fear gave way to new alliances. That’s the pattern, again and again.
The Bottom Line
Sun Tzu reminds us that chaos isn’t just a threat. It’s a signal that power is shifting. That those who fear you are scrambling to reassert control.
But in every act of backlash, there’s a window, a chance to push forward, not just fall back.
So no, this isn’t the end. This is the opening.
We are the storm and the strategy. We are the chaos and the clarity.
Let’s make sure they never see us coming.
Next Up: “Commanding All Fronts: Building Coalitions Across Power Lines”
Dropping June 17. Only on TransVitae.com
