Libertarians love to yell about "freedom" and "personal liberty" like it’s their mantra, but when it comes to the LGBTQIA+ and trans communities, that whole “live and let live” philosophy seems to go flying out the goddamn window. Why? Because their version of "freedom" often translates to "I don't give a shit about your rights if they inconvenience me."

This is a breakdown of why Libertarian Party members often fail to support LGBTQIA+ and trans folks, even when their supposed principles should align with equality and individual rights. Spoiler alert: It’s a mix of ideological inconsistency, shitty priorities, and, let’s be honest, a healthy dose of bigotry disguised as “small government” rhetoric.

Libertarians claim to be the party of freedom, but when that freedom involves queer and trans people just existing, suddenly it’s not so simple. The idea of “personal liberty” should, in theory, mean supporting everyone’s right to live their authentic lives. But nope—many Libertarians twist this into, “You do you, as long as I don’t have to see it, pay for it, or acknowledge it.”

Here’s where it gets fucked up: Libertarians often frame LGBTQIA+ and trans rights as “special treatment” rather than basic equality. For example:

The contradiction is glaring: they’ll scream about freedom for gun owners and anti-vaxxers, but when it comes to protecting LGBTQIA+ folks from discrimination or violence, they shrug and say, “Not my problem.”

Libertarians love to hide behind the “small government” banner, which sounds fine until you realize it’s often just a euphemism for, “We don’t want to do anything to protect marginalized people.” Here’s how this plays out:

Libertarians argue that the free market will magically fix discrimination. If a business discriminates against gay or trans people, they claim the market will “punish” them when customers boycott. Yeah, because bigots are so well-known for giving a shit about market forces, right? In reality, this laissez-faire approach leaves LGBTQIA+ folks vulnerable to harassment, job loss, and worse.

When it comes to trans issues, Libertarians often say, “Let the private sector handle it.” That’s code for, “We’re not going to do shit to stop trans people from being harassed for using the bathroom that matches their gender identity.” Small government in this context is just a cop-out for ignoring systemic discrimination.

Let’s be real—Libertarians often cozy up to conservatives because they share some overlapping goals, like cutting taxes and gutting regulations. But this alliance comes at a cost: many Libertarians end up pandering to the anti-LGBTQIA+ crowd to keep conservative allies on their side.

You’ll often hear Libertarians parroting conservative rhetoric about “protecting children” or “religious freedom,” which are just fancy ways of justifying anti-LGBTQIA+ policies. By aligning themselves with these narratives, Libertarians end up legitimizing bigotry under the guise of liberty.

Libertarians are quick to dismiss LGBTQIA+ rights as “identity politics” or a “distraction” from the “real” issues, like tax reform. This dismissive attitude sends a clear message: queer and trans people don’t matter as much as deregulating corporations.

Libertarians are obsessed with individualism, which sounds great in theory—until you realize it’s often used as an excuse to ignore systemic oppression. They’ll say things like, “Everyone should be treated equally,” but refuse to acknowledge that LGBTQIA+ folks start from a different baseline thanks to discrimination.

Libertarians tend to view the world in black-and-white terms: you’re an individual, and your success or failure is entirely your responsibility. This ignores the reality of intersectionality—the way race, gender, and sexuality intersect to create unique challenges. For example, a Black trans woman faces far more systemic barriers than a cisgender white man, no matter how much Libertarians want to pretend otherwise.

Libertarians love to claim they’re just being “rational” when they deny trans people’s identities. They’ll trot out arguments about “biological reality” and say things like, “There are only two genders,” as if that’s some groundbreaking scientific revelation.

Transphobic Libertarians conveniently overlook the mountains of evidence supporting the existence of gender diversity throughout history and across cultures. They act like respecting someone’s pronouns is some Orwellian nightmare, when it’s really just basic fucking decency.

By clinging to these outdated, pseudoscientific arguments, Libertarians create an environment where trans people are delegitimized and dehumanized, all under the guise of “logic.”

Libertarian icon Ron Paul, often hailed as the godfather of modern libertarianism, has a long history of problematic views on LGBTQIA+ issues. His infamous newsletters from the 1990s included homophobic rhetoric, including blaming gay men for the AIDS epidemic. While Paul later claimed he didn’t write those articles, the damage was done—and his legacy still casts a shadow over the party.

Many Libertarians still idolize Ron Paul, even as they try to distance themselves from his homophobic past. This creates a tension within the party: they want to appear inclusive, but they’re still clinging to a leader with a problematic record.

The Libertarian Party’s official platform claims to support LGBTQIA+ rights, stating that they oppose discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. But in practice, the party often undermines these principles by prioritizing “small government” ideology over real-world solutions.

Yes, the party technically supports marriage equality and opposes sodomy laws. But when it comes to enforcing anti-discrimination protections or addressing violence against LGBTQIA+ people? Crickets. Their approach boils down to, “We’ll support you as long as it doesn’t inconvenience anyone else.”

To be fair, not all Libertarians are anti-LGBTQIA+. Some genuinely believe in applying their principles of freedom and individual rights to everyone, regardless of sexuality or gender identity. These Libertarians often:

Unfortunately, these Libertarians are often overshadowed by the louder, more conservative voices in the party. They face pushback from members who see LGBTQIA+ issues as “identity politics” or “special treatment.”

The Libertarian Party loves to preach about freedom, but when it comes to LGBTQIA+ and trans rights, they’re often hypocritical, dismissive, or downright hostile. By hiding behind “small government” rhetoric and catering to conservative bigots, they undermine their own principles of liberty and equality.

If Libertarians truly cared about freedom, they’d stop using it as a cover for inaction and start actively supporting policies that protect LGBTQIA+ people from discrimination, violence, and systemic oppression. Until then, they’ll remain the party of “freedom for me, but not for thee.”