I’m sure your memory is correct, but I think it’s missing a major part of the issue. Trans issues weren’t discussed, so you weren’t shown the bigotry that was hidden away. It’s like for black people, the majority didn’t show their bigotry until they were asking for equality. When they were “in their place” you just go about your life like normal and it’s not a point of discussion.

That said, a lot of the anti-trans movement is created artificially to use as a target to distract voters. It’s a fake issue they can purposefully misrepresent so their voters ignore the actual harm they’re doing to them.