Followup: Treat Trans Ideology Like A Religion | Disruptarian Radio with Ryan “Dickie” Thompson

Author: Ryan “Dickie” Thompson

Welcome back to Disruptarian.com. In this featured episode of Disruptarian Radio, I sat down with our excellent co-host Amy Walsh to unpack a framework that could radically shift the way we view one of the most contentious issues of our time: gender identity.

The episode, titled “Treat Trans Ideology Like A Religion”, dives deep into a question I've been grappling with for years as a father, a libertarian, and someone who cares deeply about both truth and individual liberty: what if we handled trans ideology the same way we handle religion?

Spoiler: it makes a lot of sense.

Why Religion?

In the episode, we begin with a solid definition from Merriam-Webster: religion is “a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices,” or “a pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance.”

When someone says, “I’m a woman trapped in a man’s body,” that is not a biological claim. It is a metaphysical belief—a deeply personal worldview that can't be proven or disproven. That is the hallmark of religion.

So why do we tolerate or reject religious belief peacefully in society, but allow the state to enforce compliance with gender belief systems?

The Key Argument: Belief ≠ Compulsion

If we wouldn’t allow the state to force people to recite religious creeds, attend church, or affirm the doctrine of the Trinity, why do we allow compelled speech and redefined laws in the name of gender ideology?

Belief should always be voluntary. That’s what liberty demands.

Pronouns as Religious Ritual

In the podcast, we discuss how pronoun declarations, affirmations like “trans women are women,” and social policing of language have begun to function like religious rituals. These are not grounded in biology or material reality, but in belief systems that demand public affirmation.

That's not liberty. That's coercion.

What I Saw in Southeast Asia

I've been living and traveling across Southeast Asia for the past year. You know what I've never seen?

• A Pride flag.
• A trans flag.
• Someone declaring their pronouns.

And yet, there are gay people, crossdressers, feminine men, and masculine women.

Despite the absence of Western-style affirmation, there's no observable spike in suicides, depression, or violent backlash against gender non-conforming people. The culture simply allows people to be what they are, without needing the entire society to affirm a metaphysical narrative.

This should challenge the West's obsession with compulsory affirmation. Maybe affirmation isn’t necessary after all.

Parenting Without Indoctrination

In the episode, I reflect on my own role as a Christian father. I have shared my faith at Baptist conventions and deeply believe in the gospel. But I have never forced my kids to pray, attend church, or adopt my faith.

If I don’t compel my own children to speak my religious language, why should I be required to use someone else’s religious language—like pronouns or gender metaphors?

Live and let live cuts both ways.

The Rise of the “Normal Gays”

Amy and I also discuss the emergence of people like Ariel Scarcella and others in the LGBT community who are pushing back against the woke orthodoxy.

This includes gays, lesbians, and even transsexuals like Blair White and Buck Angel who oppose child medicalization, puberty blockers, and the erasure of women’s spaces.

The point is, this isn’t left vs. right anymore. It’s liberty vs. coercion.

Core Takeaways from This Episode

• Trans ideology functions like a religion: it involves unverifiable beliefs, rituals, and demands for public affirmation.
• Belief should be respected, but not enforced. That’s the libertarian position.
• The state has no business codifying metaphysical beliefs into law.
• Words like “man” and “woman” are being redefined in morally charged ways that undermine science and freedom.
• Southeast Asia proves that you can live outside gender norms without compulsory affirmation or social collapse.
• Parents shouldn’t be compelled to speak anyone’s ideological language—especially not language that violates their conscience.
• There is growing resistance within the gay and lesbian community to woke trans ideology.

Listen to the Full Episode

🎧 Click here to listen to the full episode on Disruptarian Radio

This one is worth your time. If you're a liberty-loving individual who's been trying to make sense of the gender debate, this episode lays out a rational, peaceful, and principled path forward.

WordPress Excerpt:

In this Disruptarian Radio episode, Ryan “Dickie” Thompson makes the case that treating trans ideology like a religion is the best way to preserve liberty, conscience, and reason in a pluralistic society.

Keywords:
trans ideology, gender identity, religious belief, compelled speech, liberty, gender pronouns, freedom of conscience, Southeast Asia, LGBT movement, affirmation culture, parenting, religion, Disruptarian Radio, Ryan Dickie Thompson, normal gays, Ariel Scarcella, Blair White, gender law, woke culture, belief system

Featured Image Prompt:
A podcast microphone split visually with symbols of religion on one side (cross, crescent, etc.) and gender identity symbols on the other (trans flag, pronouns). A glowing outline shows the phrase: “Treat Trans Ideology Like A Religion” across the center. Color tone: deep contrast between cool blue and warm red hues, symbolizing belief vs. biology.

Spun Web Technology SMART SEO