Trump Rolls Back Transgender Protections

President Trump issued executive orders, halting inclusion initiatives for transgender community.

The new Trump administration has begun its assaults on the LGBTQ+ community with a series of broad executive orders. On Monday, President Trump issued executive orders that would halt federal diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and remove rights for transgender persons.  

The federal government would acknowledge just the two immutable sexes, male and female, according to one order. Rather than chromosomes, the defining characteristic will be the presence or absence of eggs or sperm.

As part of his most direct assault on those behind bars, the president has issued an executive order prohibiting federal funding of gender-affirming healthcare, ordering the housing of trans women in male prisons, and directing the federal government to withdraw protections for transgender individuals from the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) regulations.

The order states the following: Government entities will "make sure that men aren't locked up in female-only prisons or kept in female-only detention facilities, including by revising, as needed, Title 28, Code of Federal Regulations [Prison Rape Elimination Act regulations] and providing interpretation guidance on the Americans with Disabilities Act."

"It is imperative that the Bureau of Prisons update its policies regarding medical care in accordance with this directive and that no Federal funds be used for any medical operation, therapy, or medication whose objective is to alter an inmate's physical appearance to match that of the other sex."

"The federal government must eliminate from all internal and external communications—statements, policies, regulations, forms, and communications—anything that promotes or inculcates gender ideology," and

"Gender ideology shall not be promoted through the use of federal funds."

A significant court fight is initiated by the order. Experts informed the appeal that the repercussions might be severe. This further leaves the transgender community vulnerable and open to a devastating domino effect. With uncertainty looming, advocates are wondering what is the best response and how to move forward.