The horrific shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville has further escalated the debate regarding transgenderism and its connection to mental health. According to law enforcement, the killer had an “emotional disorder” and was receiving treatment. The shooter, a biological female, identified as a male. In the rampage, six innocent lives were taken, including three children.

The transgender subject is at the forefront of discourse in America. There is a major focus on what is essentially a minor segment of the U.S. population, approximately 1.6 million people. The subject matter is deeply personal. Because it involves identity, many hesitate to address it in an upfront, honest manner. But that is exactly what we should do. Affirming feelings instead of treating root causes may seem like a solution, but it only masks the true reason for the discomfort and the self-hatred.