Trump’s Gender Policy: Confusion and Fear for LGBTQIA+ Community in the US
President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize only male and female sexes has sent shockwaves through the LGBTQIA+ community in the US. This executive order, signed shortly after his inauguration, revokes protections for transgender people and ignites widespread concern and uncertainty about what it means for their lives.
What Does the Executive Order Say?
The order dictates that there are only two sexes – male and female – defined by reproductive cells, with no room for non-binary or gender-fluid identities.
It rejects the growing scientific understanding that gender is a spectrum and stakes a claim that individuals must adhere to the sex they were assigned at birth.
This effectively erases the identities of countless transgender individuals who have transitioned and those who identify as non-binary.
Alexander Tries is a nonbinary and transgender person living in the US (Supplied: Alexander Tries)
Moving Forward: Will It Be Implemented?
Despite concerns, the executive order doesn’t automatically force changes. It instructs the White House staff to draft legislation within 30 days, with federal agencies given 120 days to comply. The process involves navigating complex legal procedures and likely facing significant resistance.
However, some experts emphasize the symbolic impact, arguing it sets a dangerous precedent by legitimizing discriminatory views.
Impact on Documentation
Perhaps the most immediate concern is the impact on passports and other official documents. The order calls for passports, visas, and Global Entry cards to reflect the administration’s definition of sex, potentially removing the option for ‘X’ gender markers. While the State Department hasn’t provided specific guidance on how this will be implemented, it has taken down webpages detailing the process of changing gender markers on passports.