Secondly, as a lesbian, I see so much overlap with the experiences we and trans communities encounter in the heterosexist world we live in. Particularly, as a butch lesbian, I know that we are both used to living in the margins, to not having our identities respected or understood. Lesbians and trans people stand side by side – we always have done and always will. And this isn’t just my opinion, the research shows this is the case too.

So when you hear or read a nasty, false stereotype about lesbians being anti-trans, I hope you’ll be able to see it for what it is: a lesbopobic trope.

The good news to come from our research is that if you know a trans person, you’re twice as likely to be a trans ally. Three quarters (74%) of those who say they are not supportive of trans people don’t even know a trans person in real life. Transphobia really is rooted in a fear of the unknown.

In some ways this isn’t surprising at all. Trans people make up 0.5% of our population according to the latest census – they’re a tiny community, so it’s no wonder so few people know someone who is trans. But that coupled with a constant barrage of negative media headlines, politicians being interrogated on their definitions of what makes a woman (why are we even asking men to define women anyway?) and trans people being framed as a ‘debate’ for the dinner table, is a dangerous mix. Suddenly everyone feels the pressure, and the entitlement, to have an opinion on a topic they largely know nothing about. And trans people aren’t just ‘a topic’, they are human beings, just trying to live their lives like the rest of us.

Transphobia is rising at an alarming rate in our society. I find it surreal when people fail to see the parallels between the tactics of promoting homophobia and the fear of the unknown used against us in the past, and the ways that trans people are being talked about today. This fear mongering led to Section 28, and to the generations of LGBTQ+ people suffering because of those attitudes. Now, we’re seeing history repeat itself.

So we must push through this fear of the unknown. That’s why LGBTQ+ inclusive education in school is so vital – we must create a brighter future for young people who can know there is no shame in being a butch dyke like me, trans or non-binary, or whoever they grow up to be.

Amy is the Interim CEO for Just Like Us, the LGBT+ young people’s charity. If you’re LGBT+, age 18-25 and living in the UK, you can volunteer for the Ambassador Programme here.