Battling Odds: Life as a Trans Person Under Trump's Reign
Living Conditions for Transgender Individuals Under the Trump Administration
For Elijah Nicholas, a trans man living in the US, the worry about his American passport isn't immediate. His passport is valid until 2030. However, uncertainty looms with each tick of the clock.
Under the current regime, Elijah would not receive a passport with a gender marker that matches his identity. The US only issues passports with a gender marker consistent with the one assigned at birth.
The Big Shift Trans people and non-binary individuals are hit hard by this change, says Elijah. It not only delegitimizes their gender identities but also poses a significant risk for them while traveling abroad. They don't know what to expect. Trans people do not wholly identify with the gender assigned at birth, and non-binary folk don't fully align with male or female genders.
"This order effectively wipes out one's gender identity," affirms Sharon Horne, a mental health researcher focusing on LGBTQIA+ individuals at the University of Massachusetts Boston. The acronym encompasses lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender people, queers, intersex individuals, and asexuals, with the '+' sign representing other identities and genders.
Horne raises concern about the increased risk of trans people being targeted, discriminated against or threatened at borders due to the new regulation. The psychological toll on those affected is indeterminable.
Paper Wars A study published in "The Lancet Public Health" journal in 2020 explored the correlation between official documents and the mental health of adult transgender and non-binary individuals in the US. The findings indicated that severe mental distress, suicidal thoughts, and plans were less common among those whose documents reflected their preferred name and gender compared to those whose documents didn't.
This passport issue is one of many actions by the US government against trans people. Another issue includes their exclusion from the US military, a move supported by the Department of Defense. Trump also signed a decree in February that excluded trans people from women's sports, particularly in public schools and universities. Non-compliant states may lose federal funds.
Horne notes that LGBTQIA+ people, particularly trans people, experience increased depression and anxiety when their rights are suppressed politically.
WorldPride Amid Fear and Ambiguity
Many LGBTQIA+ individuals in the US currently navigate through a space of fear and uncertainty. Washington D.C., the host of this year's WorldPride and the 50th anniversary of the first Pride event, faces a unique challenge, according to Elijah, an actor, author, and activist living in Georgia. Rainbow symbols adorn the city, yet questions linger about what it means to celebrate Pride in these times.
"It means resistance," Elijah asserts firmly. The co-organizer of the National March for Trans Visibility, a partner event of WorldPride, is currently in Washington to ensure safety for the march participants.
Picket Lines The march will be followed by a rally, anticipated to draw thousands from across the country. Together, they will march towards a closing event of WorldPride on the National Mall. Elijah anticipates their demonstration will send a strong message to Washington D.C., the nation, and the world: "To show that trans people cannot and will not be erased."
Sources: ntv.de, Franziska Spiecker, dpa
- Donald Trump
- Transgender Discrimination
- USA
- LGBTIQ
Enrichment Data:
The Trump administration's policies on passports and official documents pose several challenges for transgender and non-binary individuals in the US. Here are key impacts:
Impact on Passport Issuance
- Ban on "X" Gender Marker: The Trump administration reverted to a policy prohibiting the issuance of passports with an "X" gender marker—an option initially introduced by the Biden administration to accommodate non-binary citizens[4][5]. This decision restricts the ability of non-binary individuals to obtain passports representing their true gender identity.
- Inaccurate Sex Markers: Many transgender individuals have received passports with sex markers that do not align with their gender identity, where their previous documents had accurate markers. This mismatch contributes to distress and confusion, as individuals are forced to carry documents that might not reflect their appearance or identity[1][5].
Legal Challenges
- Lambda Legal and ACLU Lawsuits: Organizations like Lambda Legal and the ACLU have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration's policies to block their enforcement, arguing that these policies cause harm to transgender and non-binary individuals by subjecting them to discrimination and violence[1][2].
- Preliminary Injunctions: Courts have intervened. For instance, a federal judge in Massachusetts issued a preliminary injunction against the Trump administration's gender-restrictive passport policy, temporarily halting its enforcement[4].
Societal and Travel Implications
- Reduced Travel: The policies have triggered increased anxiety and fear among transgender Americans, leading to reduced travel due to concerns about harassment or violence when using inconsistent identification documents[3].
- International Travel Advisories: Several countries have issued travel advisories for their citizens planning to visit the US because of the U.S. environment for transgender and non-binary citizens, making travel for these individuals risky[5].
- The Trump administration's policies on passports and official documents have profound impacts on the lives of transgender and non-binary individuals in the US, including a ban on the "X" gender marker, inaccurate sex markers, and increased anxiety and fear leading to reduced travel.
- The policies of the Trump administration on passport issuance and politics have raised concerns about the increased risk of trans people being targeted, discriminated against or threatened at borders, as well as the psychological toll on those affected, due to the new regulation and general-news coverage.
