US President Donald Trump has followed through on key campaign promises by rolling back federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and LGBTQ+ protections.
Trump, who took office on January 20th, has since rescinded 78 executive orders signed by former President Joe Biden, marking a significant shift in federal policy and sparking concerns among minority communities.
Reversing Diversity and LGBTQ+ Protections
Trump’s latest executive orders dismantle various Biden-era policies that aimed to promote workplace diversity, combat discrimination, and protect LGBTQ+ rights. Among the most notable changes:
- Elimination of DEI Programs: Trump’s administration has removed DEI initiatives from federal agencies, arguing they led to “illegal and immoral discrimination” against white Americans, particularly men.
- Restrictions on Gender Identity Recognition: A new executive order mandates that federal agencies recognise only two genders—male and female—eliminating the “X” gender marker on passports and other official documents.
- Rollback of LGBTQ+ Protections: Trump repealed orders that safeguarded LGBTQ+ individuals from discrimination in education, healthcare, and workplaces. This move could affect access to gender-affirming medical care, especially for those relying on federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid.
- Targeting Gender-Affirming Care: The new policies seek to restrict federal funding for gender-affirming treatments, a step Trump had promised during his campaign.
Legal Challenges and Public Reaction
These sweeping changes are expected to face significant legal challenges. Advocacy groups argue that rolling back these protections could increase discrimination and worsen disparities for LGBTQ+ individuals and other minority communities.
At the historic Stonewall Inn in New York City, a landmark in the LGBTQ+ rights movement, activists expressed their concerns.
“These announcements and policy changes really affect people on a deep level,” said Angel Bullard, a 22-year-old transgender student from Wyoming. “It’s a horrible place to be when you are unaffirmed and alone in this world.”
Meanwhile, Jami Taylor, a politics professor at Toledo University, warned that limiting federal funding for gender-affirming care could impact individuals in federal prisons and those reliant on state-run insurance programs.
LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, such as the LGBTQ Victory Fund, have called the rollback a direct attack on equality. “Work to elect pro-equality LGBTQ candidates is even more critical as our community faces continued backlash, anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, and the rollback of pro-equality mandates,” the organisation stated.
The LGBTQ National Help Center has reported a surge in distress calls following the policy changes, receiving approximately 2,000 calls per day—up from the usual 300—since the election results were confirmed.