I think all of that is completely fair and valid, and I think I agree with all of it. I especially agree that the transgender issue is a completely concocted, fabricated, exaggerated culture war wedge issue for the right wingers in this country, and I'm personally disgusted by their insistence on further marginalizing innocent people who are just trying to live their lives.
I suppose I just have a difficult time labeling folks as racists, homophobes, transphobes, bigots, etc. because I think that for many people, it's a lack of education and a lack of understanding as opposed to an outright desire to be a bully. (Admittedly, for far too many others, the cruelty is absolutely the point). And I just fear that labeling folks as transphobic, bigots, etc. will reflexively and automatically shut them off to even further education or reconsideration of their positions.
Take me, for example. I am entirely certain I once held views that would be classified as racist, homophobic, transphobic, and bigoted. But it was because of a lot of people- including many in this very ZZLP community- and a lot of lived and learned experiences, that I was willing and able to reconsider my views and have a change of heart. And I just want to give others the opportunity to do the same.