As a public health official and infectious disease doctor, I’ve spent my career tracking pathogens. Related: Anti-transgender hate crimes spike, leading to calls for a public health emergencyWhen I first described hate as an infectious agent like a virus, bacterium, or parasite, some people thought it was metaphorical. It dehumanizes scientists, doctors, nurses, and public health staff. We need cross‑sector collaboration between public health agencies, LGBTQ+ organizations, scientific institutions, and policymakers. And we need to confront misinformation as a form of violence with measurable public health consequences.