New York City
AI Assisted Icon
Published on January 21, 2025
New York Ablaze with Outrage as Trump Rolls Back Transgender Protections and DEI Efforts in Federal GovernmentSource: Unsplash/ev

In a series of executive actions that have shaken the conscience of many across New York and beyond, President Donald Trump has put forth measures to significantly roll back transgender protections and undo diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs within the federal government. As reported by CBS News New York, the President declared that the U.S. government will now recognize only two genders, male and female, receiving applause from his supporters at the Capitol. This directive has been perceived as not only disregarding the complexities of gender identity, but also described by Julie Grey-Owens of Gender Equality New York Inc., as "an attack on a small number of people."

Amidst the first actions of his second term, Trump ended the government policy of "trying to socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life," aiming to create a society he considers "color blind and merit-based," despite civil rights leaders condemning the moves as cruel and hypocritical. According to CBS News New York, Laura Harding, president of Erase Racism, highlighted the contradiction in Trump's merit-based claims, pointing out the nature of his appointees. In Nassau County, Executive Bruce Blakeman's recent ban on transgender athletes from competing on girls teams cheered Trump's actions, anchoring their stance on the presumed "unfair physical advantage," thus reigniting another segment of the controversy.

Trump's directives were not solely limited to gender identity issues. They extended to override efforts previously set by the Biden Administration to combat discrimination and promote fairness. As The Guardian reports, one of Trump's new executive orders directs a removal of what he terms "all radical gender ideology guidance," and imposes limitations on agencies regarding the promotion of gender transition, with prisons included among the agencies prohibited from using taxpayer funds for gender transition services.

The backlash has been immediate and potent from rights advocacy groups. Kelley Robinson, president of Human Rights Campaign, affirmed their resolve in a statement obtained by The Guardian, "We refuse to back down or be intimidated. We are not going anywhere, and we will fight back against these harmful provisions with everything we’ve got." Meanwhile, the corporate response is varied, with some distancing themselves from DEI measures, though companies such as Costco and Apple remain committed.

The implications of these orders are expected to ripple through policies and practices well beyond the federal agencies directly impacted. Advocacy groups insist that the message being sent transcends state borders and represents a significant step backward for civil liberties as a whole. Taxpayer money will no longer fund transition services, part of a broader cessation of the acceptance of transgender identities within official federal policies. The orders coinciding with Martin Luther King Jr Day, as noted by The Guardian, only adds to the gravity of the actions' timing and the stark contrast they present against the backdrop of a national celebration of civil rights.