President Donald Trump and his administration’s latest move against the LGBTQIA community centers on gender non-conforming people, creating a wave of responses and backlash.
A report from The New York Times revealed how the Trump administration plans to redefine gender on the basis of biology by calling for government organizations to adopt an unvarying definition of gender as determined “on a biological basis that is clear, grounded in science, objective and administrable.” This means that the transgender community will be greatly affected as their civil rights will be non-existent. The move is an interpretation of Title IX, an Obama-era amendment that provided rights to trans people. Read about Title IX’s history here.
If enacted by the four major government agencies (Departments of Education, Justice, Health and Human Services, and Labor) targeted to adopt the new policy, transgender people will no longer be protected in the workplace, housing, schools, and healthcare.
The department proposed via memo, “Sex means a person’s status as male or female based on immutable biological traits identifiable by or before birth,” and that “The sex listed on a person’s birth certificate, as originally issued, shall constitute definitive proof of a person’s sex unless rebutted by reliable genetic evidence.”
Beyond violating civil rights and severing trans identifying people from an invaluable part of their identity, this administration has not considered the lives of people who are biologically born intersex. And if any instance of gender uncertainty shall come up, there will be gender testing to clear up any “confusion.”
This administration’s pursuit to delete transgender people from history has sprouted the hashtag #WontBeErased and fueled a rally in Washington Square Park on Sunday (Oct. 21). where Pose actress Indya Moore spoke alongside other notable members in the community.
TONIGHT IN WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK: @voices4_ and @LambdaLegal rally against the transphobic Trump memo with speakers like @IndyaMoore, @tourmaliiine, @chasestrangio, @1demerith, and @teenvogue‘s @SatansJacuzzi pic.twitter.com/7qIHfs1XDv
— Phillip Picardi (@pfpicardi) October 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/socarolinesays/status/1054138667789361152
Laverne Cox, Star’s Amiyah Scott and Pose’s Indya Moore have spoken out about the report.
Example of the brutality of colonialism. This latest administration effort to legislate trans folks out of existence is yet another example of why the fight for gender equity must be intersectional and necessarily must include trans folks. Trans folks need everyone to stand with
— Laverne Cox (@Lavernecox) October 21, 2018
They can try all they want, but they cannot erase us.
— Janet Mock (@janetmock) October 21, 2018
The foundation of colonialism prevails through the trump adminstration via the erasure of gender identities that have been acknowledge before the dawn of America and international post colonial governmental settling and influence. .
— IAM (@IndyaMoore) October 21, 2018
This is an attack on the humanity of transgender people and it cannot stand. Let’s send a clear message that we won’t sit back and allow this type of discrimination in two weeks at the ballot box. https://t.co/grIA0sIqN7
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 22, 2018
Physically sick to my stomach with this administration.
— Ryan Jamaal Swain (@RyanJamaal) October 21, 2018
Let’s create a world where there’s more heroes like these women, courageous enough to live their truth everyday despite ignorance and blatant discrimination. #WontBeErased pic.twitter.com/PaakbmXMj1
— Angel Bismark Curiel (@angelbcuriel) October 21, 2018
Even Trump supporter Caitlyn Jenner posted on Instagram “a reaction” to the news.
See more below.
Our existence as transgender and gender non-binary people is an act of civil disobedience. #WontBeErased
— Jennicet Gutiérrez (@JennicetG) October 21, 2018
Let’s create a world where there’s more heroes like these women, courageous enough to live their truth everyday despite ignorance and blatant discrimination. #WontBeErased pic.twitter.com/PaakbmXMj1
— Angel Bismark Curiel (@angelbcuriel) October 21, 2018
Meet my daughter, Ellie. She is vibrant, artistic and loves a pun. We stand with her and her trans family, especially those most marginalized already by our racist & transphobic systems. #WeWontBeErased #TransIsBeautiful pic.twitter.com/Tzo0Y02oxL
— Vanessa Ford (she/her) (@VanessaFordDC) October 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/SaraRamirez/status/1054421745736785920
Right beside you. #WontBeErased https://t.co/p0vq93tIaR
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) October 22, 2018
The government may be living in an alternate universe, but we as a society & culture know who we are and know our truth and must stick together and raise our voices so we can educate them about gender identities. #TransRightsAreHumanRights #WontBeErased
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) October 22, 2018
READ MORE: 4 Lessons Learned From ‘Pose’ As The Fight For Equality Emerges