The Trump administration is targeting transgender rights, but the trans community refuses to take it lying down.
On Sunday, The New York Times reported the Trump administration plans to roll back protections former President Obama established for transgender people.
The proposed initiative would define gender solely based on a person’s genitals.
“Sex means a person’s status as male or female based on immutable biological traits identifiable by or before birth,” the Department of Health and Human Services wrote in a memo. “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.”
This change could only be reversed by genetic testing and would eliminate the federal protection of the 1.4 million transgender people in this country.
Donald Trump spoke positively of the proposal and claims he plans to keep his campaign promise to protect the LGBT community, according to Reuters.
“We have a lot of different concepts right now. They have a lot of different things happening with respect to transgender right now,” 45 said. “I’m protecting everybody. I want to protect our country.”
The transgender community and their allies see it differently. Criticism of the initiative has been ongoing, and protests have popped up all over the country. A hashtag, #WontBeErased, went viral.
This attempted erasure of trans lives is disgusting. They are literally trying to eliminate the already threatened livelihood of trans people.
We exist!
We always have, we always will.— Amiyah Scott (@KingAmiyahScott) October 21, 2018
After 70 years I am here to tell you the system has always tried to break us. All us trans girls know we got to depend on each other and when enough of us bitches come together we can ???? it down and use the ashes to build the motherfucking mansions we deserve! #stillfuckinghere
— Miss Major (@immissmajor) September 29, 2018
Every Georgian should be able to self-determine their identity and expression. Period.
As #GAGov, I will be a firewall against hateful policies. I will continue to fight #RFRA and champion robust anti-discrimination laws to advance protections for ALL Georgians. #WontBeErased
https://t.co/nKpWA5HbkX— Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) October 22, 2018
If you consider yourself to be an ally of the trans community. NOW is the time to stand with us. Show them that we #WontBeErased.
— ＭＵＮＲＯＥ ???????? (@MunroeBergdorf) October 21, 2018
Moving speech from Indya Moore pic.twitter.com/AbetdAIGee
— Caroline Moss (@socarolinesays) October 21, 2018
A word to all my cis family:
You
Don’t
Get
To
Define
People
Out
Of
Existence.Trans people #wontbeerased and it’s HIGH time cis folks get on the right side of history and humanity.
To my trans and non-binary family: I see you, I always will. I’m following your lead. https://t.co/s0JHsif3zT
— Brittany Packnett (@MsPackyetti) October 22, 2018
I have TWO beautiful, Black trans daughters. This administration better bet this mama will ALWAYS be their warrior. #WontBeErased
#TransIsBeautiful
pic.twitter.com/TVCvmhWCCE— DeShanna N (@Trinsmamabear) October 21, 2018
We’re not playing this game anymore with you America, pretending your policies are protecting anything but white supremacy & white property. A new America is on the horizon, one that rises above policy into the principles of humanity. These principles will be non-negotiable.
— Angelica Ross (@angelicaross) October 21, 2018
We must not give up the fight. But in the face of this affront on my existence and the existence of my community I choose love not fear. We exist and always have.
Trump Administration Eyes Defining Transgender Out of Existence https://t.co/G4rKB1mVfe
— Laverne Cox (@Lavernecox) October 21, 2018
The proposed definition is considered an attack on an already vulnerable population. According to a 2015 report by the National Center of Transgender Equality, 48 percent of respondents experienced harassment or mistreatment because of their gender identity. If they’re Black, the rate is 58 percent, one percent more than their white or Latinx counterparts. Other people of color experienced harassment at equal or higher rates.
Between 2013 and 2017, 102 transgender people have been murdered, and 75 of them were Black according to a study by the Transgender People of Color Coalition and Human Rights Campaign. The current death toll for 2018 is 22 people, according to WBEZ. Black women make up the majority of deaths.
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