This is a column I would prefer not to write. Of its nature it is intensely personal, though hopefully not distastefully so. It will undoubtedly offend many, including some for whom I feel enormous affection and respect. It will offend many others who loathe me and whose loathing I am pleased to reciprocate. In the main I am blessed with the quality of my enemies. Moreover, I am sick of the culture wars, especially as I belong to no tribe.

In the wake of the marriage equality debate, it is impossible for me to define myself as a conservative. Nor do I belong to the queer community, whose most influential leaders have never forgiven me for opposing the Safe Schools program and my friendship with Tony Abbott. Unlike most of his detractors Abbott is able to reconcile with his friends after they have transgressed against him and, conversely, to make amends when he has wronged them.

Illustration: Simon Letch

We now differ on too many things to ever again share our former close bond. That saddens me. But that is the nature of the culture wars. Yet, I have more regard for Abbott than I shall ever feel for the leaders of my "community”. Likewise, I feel heretical regard for Andrew Hastie, despite our manifold differences, including over transgenderism and some elements of theology. He defies easy classification and is one of the most impressive people I have encountered in politics. He craves no external affirmation and answers to his own conscience, a rare quality.

Therein lies the challenge in writing this column. As sick as I am of the culture wars, transgendered people are on the front line again. Indeed, we have been on the front line ever since the marriage equality plebiscite and aggrieved conservatives are venting their rage and humiliation at that defeat upon us. As the centre right of Australian politics disintegrates and trawls for the votes of evangelical Christians and atheist nationalists, trans people provide a rich source of demonology to forge a coalition of the pious, the vicious and brittle men emasculated by globalisation.