15 Things the Trump Administration Has Done to Roll Back Protections for LGBTQ People

October 22, 2018

This weekend, the New York Times reported that the Trump administration has developed a proposal that would legally define gender as based solely on a person’s genitalia at birth, a significant setback to recognition of transgender individuals, as well as federal protections against discrimination in health care, education, and more. This discriminatory action is just the latest assault on LGBTQ people and their rights since Trump’s inauguration. Despite running as an alledged “ally” of the LGBTQ community, Trump and his administration has engaged  in a deliberate strategy to undermine and eliminate protections for LGBTQ people.

Here are 15 things the Trump administration has done to roll back protections for the  LGBTQ community:

 

  1. The Department of Health and Human Services is seeking to eradicate federal recognition and protection of transgender Americans by redefining gender to be based solely on a person’s genitalia at birth.

 

New York Times: “‘Transgender’ Could Be Defined Out of Existence Under Trump Administration”

 

  1. The Department of Labor is developing a rule to allow federal contractors to fire LGBTQ people.

 

BuzzFeed News: “Trump Is Planning A New Rule To Let Federal Contractors Fire Employees For Religious Reasons”

 

  1. Trump barred most transgender recruits from serving in the military.

 

Military.com: “New Trump Transgender Military Policy Bars Those With Gender Dysphoria”

 

  1. The State Department began refusing visas for same-sex partners of U.S. diplomats and U.N. workers if they are not  married (even those from countries where same-sex marriage is not legal).

 

NBC News: “U.S. to partners of U.N. LGBTQ staff: Get married, or get out”

 

  1. The Department of Health and Human Services is allowing health care providers to discriminate against LGBTQ people on the basis of “moral objection.”

 

CNBC: “Feds To Create HHS Unit To Protect Health Workers Objecting To Doing Abortions, Treating Transgender people.”

 

  1. Betsy DeVos and the Department of Education refused to protect transgender students from bullying and harassment.

 

BuzzFeed News: “The Education Department Officially Says It Will Reject Transgender Student Bathroom Complaints”

 

  1. The Bureau of Prisons eliminated Obama-era policy protecting transgender prisoners.

 

NBC News: “The revised Transgender Offender Manual now mandates officials ‘use biological sex as the initial determination’ for trans inmate placement decisions.”

 

  1. The Department of Justice gutted policies that protect transgender people from employment discrimination.

 

BuzzFeed News: “Jeff Sessions Just Reversed A Policy That Protects Transgender Workers From Discrimination.”

 

  1. The Department of Justice dropped a lawsuit challenging North Carolina’s anti-transgender “bathroom bill.”

 

Slate: “Justice Department Withdraws Litigation over North Carolina’s HB2, Citing Fake Repeal”

 

  1. The Department of Commerce removed sexual orientation and gender identity from the proposed 2020 Census survey.

 

NBC News: “LGBTQ Americans Won’t Be Counted in 2020 U.S. Census After All”

 

  1. Trump announced the “Deploy or Get Out” rule, which could remove HIV+ military personnel from service.

 

Newsweek: “How Trump’s ‘Deploy or Get Out’ Policy Could See People With HIV Kicked Out of Military For No Reason”

 

  1. The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to allow businesses to discriminate against LGBTQ people.

 

Wall Street Journal: “Trump Administration Backs Baker Who Refused to Make Wedding Cake for Gay Couple.”

 

  1. Trump created inhospitable work environments for LGBTQ federal employees.

 

Politico: “[The Trump administration] fostered a climate where six staffers who are LGBT described removing their wedding rings before coming to work in the morning, taking down photos of their partners and families or ultimately finding new jobs further away from certain political appointees.They did not want to be identified; two said they feared being reassigned for being gay.”

 

  1. The Trump White House has yet to appoint an LGBTQ liason.

 

BuzzFeed News: “Trump doesn’t have an LGBT liaison at the White House, a position that previously served under president Barack Obama as a conduit between the executive branch and organizations — and individuals — when decisions were made on LGBT policies. The last White House LGBT liaison under Obama had said she was afraid this would happen.

 

  1. The Trump White House refused to acknowledge Pride Month for the second year in a row.

 

NBC News: “President Trump Misses LGBTQ Pride Month — Again”