The fact you use the phrase “have plenty of tolerance for trans people” says you don’t respect trans people. You just tolerate their existence.

I would hate for them to see who I would assume is a friend of their to say “I tolerate their existence”.

You’re genuinely a horrible person. And no one is “shoving political opinions” down your throat. Trans people exist and have the right to exist. If their existence is political, you’re a fucking asshole.