Ella Bender

On his first day in office, President Donald Trump issued an executive order declaring that “it is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female,” and that sex is “not changeable.” This legally erases the existence of transgender people.

Trump claims that the presence of transgender people “fundamentally [attacks] women by depriving them of their dignity, safety and well-being.” In reality, the welfare of cisgender women is not diminished by transgender people. According to the Williams Institute, there is no evidence that allowing transgender people to use public facilities, such as bathrooms and locker rooms, that align with their gender increases safety risks. Trump’s blatant lies perpetuate misconceptions that result in, rather than eliminate, harm. In 2021, the Williams Institute found that transgender people are over four times as likely to be subject to violent victimization, such as rape and abuse, than cisgender people.

This executive order is already affecting transgender Americans. According to AP News, the State Department no longer offers “X” as a gender-marker option on passports and will not approve requests to change gender-markers. Many transgender people suffer from gender dysphoria, distress from a disconnect between their sex and gender. For those who experience dysphoria, having documents that don’t match their gender can further this pain.

In addition to his executive orders, Trump has taken down countless mentions of transgender people from the White House website. Many references to “gender” have been changed to “sex.” A travel tip page now addresses “LGB travelers” instead of “LGBTQIA+ travelers.” Mental health resources for queer people have been removed. Instead of protecting Americans, Trump is hurting those who are the most vulnerable. Following the 2024 election, the Trevor Project, a suicide prevention organization for queer youth, saw a 700% increase in volume of calls and messages to their crisis helplines.

All hope is not lost. Transgender people have survived and thrived through thousands of years of discrimination. They won’t disappear just because the U.S. doesn’t recognize them. If people work together, change can be made. Offer support to those impacted by these policies. Uplift queer voices. Educate others. Do not give up. It will be a long, uphill battle, but no one is fighting it alone.