The ugly scenes of right-wing extremists in Melbourne — dressed in black and performing Nazi salutes — attempting to menace transgender rights activists were not only horrifying to me but also made me wonder (once more) why there is such animosity.

Why do these people care so much about someone’s gender, the one they were assigned to at birth?

Why are people so angry about how someone dresses or what name they are called or how their body is shaped?

Why does identity bring out such bile in the people who, no doubt, believe gay people and women who have abortions should be burnt at the stake or nailed to a flaming crucifix?