1. United States
2. Letter

As an Indian American proud to support your conservative leadership, I write out of concern for the tone around transgender issues in our movement. Recently a right-wing cartoonist’s stunt drew widespread criticism even in our circles: he “changed his profile banner to the final image shared by a transgender teenager before her suicide” (with a promo code “41%”) . Commentators rightly called it “a new moral low” . Turning a real person’s death into a promotional joke may grab shock attention, but it ultimately undermines our message and our moral standing. Transgender youth face very real struggles. Research shows transgender teens attempt suicide at roughly 7.6 times the rate of their peers . These are not abstract numbers — each one is a life, a family. Mocking such a tragedy contradicts our principles. It gives opponents ammunition to paint us as cruel and weak on compassion, weakening the moral high ground we need to win hearts and minds. We must oppose extreme gender ideology firmly, but also with discipline. Insults and personal attacks may thrill a narrow online audience, but they hurt us in the long run. Our movement can be tough on ideas without dehumanizing people. True strength is shown by restraint: standing up for our values with dignity, not resorting to the same cruel tactics we condemn in others. Your leadership can change this tone. A public remark from you — emphasizing that we fight bad policies and ideas, not people’s personal pain — would refocus the conversation on substance. President Trump, urging respect in this debate would reassure many voters that our cause is honorable. Senator Vance, your own words on disciplined rhetoric would show supporters that restraint is maturity, not weakness. Just a few sentences from either of you could steer the dialogue back to policy instead of cruel jokes. I say this as someone wholeheartedly committed to conservative success. I am not asking you to soften on principle, only to choose our words carefully. Excessive, performative attacks on a vulnerable group damage our reputation and weaken our appeal beyond the base. If we want a durable movement that wins lasting victories, we need the support of everyday Americans too. Conservative strength means standing firm without descending into cruelty. Thank you for considering this message. I appreciate your leadership and your willingness to tackle tough issues. By guiding our ranks away from needless cruelty, you will show once again that our principles rest on strength and compassion, not fear and hatred.