Transgender Former MEP Steps Down from US Trade Delegation Due to Trump's Policies Regarding the LGBTQ+ Community
Petra De Sutter, Europe's first openly transgender minister, has decided to withdraw from a Belgian trade mission to the United States scheduled for October. The decision comes in response to policies targeting the LGBTQ+ community under President Donald Trump's administration.
De Sutter, who is set to begin her term as rector of Ghent University next month, made the announcement to Belgian news agency Belga on Thursday. She stated that she cannot attend the trade mission without facing trouble or causing an incident.
The trade mission, a Belgian delegation, was scheduled to take place in Los Angeles and San Francisco. However, De Sutter has chosen to avoid a 'diplomatic' incident by not attending, citing personal reasons that are not related to her role as a politician or academic.
De Sutter became Belgium's deputy prime minister and minister of public administration and public enterprises in October 2020. Prior to this, she served as an MEP with the Greens/European Free Alliance from 2019 to 2020. Before her political career, De Sutter was a graduate of Ghent University and served as its rector before her current role.
The Trump administration has issued a series of executive orders targeting transgender people, including a proposed ban on transgender people competing in sports and a move to recognize only two, unchangeable sexes: male and female. Federal documents, including passports and visas, may no longer include 'nonbinary' or 'other' options under Trump's administration.
De Sutter made history as the continent's first openly transgender national-level minister, a role she has held since October 2020. Despite the challenges she has faced, De Sutter has remained committed to her principles and has used her position to advocate for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.
De Sutter declined to comment further on her decision not to attend the trade mission. However, her withdrawal is a clear statement of solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community and a stand against policies that discriminate against them.
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