Transgender and Nonbinary folks have been heavily targeted by the Trump administration threatening these two groups with a series of executive orders that put many nonbinary and trans youth in fear.
Within the span of a day after his inauguration, he has signed two executive orders not allowing gender markers to be changed on passports and getting rid of the use of the X marker.
CBSNews has stated, “The order in question was one that Trump signed on his first day back in office that said the government would recognize only people’s sex and not their gender – and defined sex as unchangeable.”
This change also did not comply with the requirement for a 60-day notice. “ – and that it discriminates based on sex and, in some cases, transgender status.” stated CBSNews.
These two executive orders also affect trangender women in federal prisons. “the Trump administration to force the transfer of transgender women in federal prisons to men’s housing, and to deny them gender-transition medical care.” stated NYTimes. In addition Trump has banned transgender people from serving in the military, denied federal funding for hospitals that provide gender-affirming care under the age of 19.
As a result of this order, several accounts from families that made appointments were canceled, and hospitals paused gender-affirming care, including prescriptions for Puberty Blockers and Hormone Therapy.
However, a 2nd federal U.S. judge paused Trump’s executive order that opposed gender-affirming care for ages under 19 on Feb. 13. “This order seems to deny that this population even exists, or deserves to exist,” Federal Judge Brendan A.Hurson told WBUR.org. This temporary pause lasts 14 days but can be extended while the case proceeds. This restraining order ban is in effect nationwide. It is not yet known whether they have decided to extend this temporary restraining order past 14 days.
Despite this order being signed, California Attorney General Rob Bonta has stated, “We will not let the President turn back the clock or deter us from upholding California values. I understand that the President’s executive order on gender affirming care has created some confusion. Let me be clear: California law has not changed, and hospitals and clinics have a legal obligation to provide equal access to healthcare services.”
Even though this executive order was signed, hospitals and clinics will still provide access to gender-affirming care due to potentially violating the state’s anti-discrimination laws.
At a House Oversight Committee hearing, a South Carolina Republican Rep. Nancy Mace used a transphobic slur repeatedly while questioning witnesses about USAID funding for gender-affirming care in Guatemala. Rep. Gerry Connolly D-Va. stated that the term Mace used was derogatory, so in response Mace interrupted him saying “I don’t really care.”
Connolly asked committee chair rep. James Comer, R-Ky to step in on the current situation and his response was, “We’ll look into that and get back with you on that. I don’t know what’s offensive and what’s not. I don’t know much about pronouns.” Mace soon went to post clips of this hearing on her social media platforms claiming that “the left” was trying to censor her.
Nancy Mace introduced a bill banning trans women from using women’s restrooms in the Capitol in 2024. That was Mace’s response to the election of Democratic Rep-elect Sarah McBride of Delaware, first out transgender person elected into congress. Nancy Mace also has a record of calling transgender individuals, “mentally ill” and needing to “seek help” on the social media platform X. “Voted for gay marriage twice. Would do it again. Have supported pro LGBTQ legislation. Draw the line at women being forced to undress in front of men or men using our bathrooms or any private spaces,” Nancy Mace told CNN.
The bill banning transgender women from women’s bathrooms in the capitol eventually led to Trump signing an executive order that bans transgender women athletes from womens sports. “ A number of sporting governing bodies, including swimming, athletics and golf, have banned transgender women from competing in the female category at elite level if they have gone through male puberty.” states BBC News. Trump stated while signing the order, “the war on women’s sports is over” and “my administration will not stand by and watch men beat and batter female athletes.”
The percentage of transgender people over the age of 13 in the U.S. is less than 1% and the percentage that play sports is even smaller, according to a study by the UCLA Williams Institute.
With the start of Trump’s second presidency, Google has made recent changes to no longer acknowledge the following months and cultural events, Pride Month, Black History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, Women’s History Month, Holocaust Remembrance Day and many more cultural events.
The Guardian stated, “The tech behemoth recently announced that it would be rolling back its previous commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in its employment policies following the U.S. president’s orders to curb DEI in federal agencies in one of his first moves as president.”
The Trump Administration is actively threatening the rights of transgender and nonbinary youth in the U.S. Many have not received a passport with correct gender markers or they haven’t received one at all. Various trans youth are scared of what will happen as Trump keeps signing more orders trying to erase the transgender community.
Written by Andrew Gomez, Staff Writer