2SLGBTQ+ advocates fear ‘dangerous time’ in both U.S. and Canada as Trump rolls back protections
Advocates for the 2SLGBTQ+ community in Manitoba are expressing deep concern and fear following U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent actions targeting transgender individuals. In one of his first moves after taking office, Trump signed an executive order that eliminated a number of policies designed to protect 2SLGBTQ+ rights, fulfilling a campaign promise to “restore biological truth.”
The executive order asserted that the U.S. will only recognize two sexes – male and female – and that these sexes are immutable. This decision has sparked worry among members of the transgender community, including Charlie Eau, the executive director of Trans Manitoba. Eau, who is a parent to a non-binary child, expressed feeling terrified about discussing the current political climate with their child, particularly the efforts in the U.S. to legislate transgender individuals out of existence.
Trump’s executive order also overturned 78 executive orders established by former President Joe Biden, including those aimed at combating discrimination against gay and transgender individuals. Trump criticized the previous administration for what he perceived as attempts to socially engineer race and gender into all aspects of public and private life. The new order mandates that government-issued identification documents, such as passports and visas, must align with an individual’s biological sex.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights estimates that between 0.05% and 1.7% of the global population is born with intersex traits, which do not conform to traditional binary notions of male or female bodies. This decision by Trump has been described as dehumanizing and dangerous by Eau, who emphasized the lack of safety felt by individuals whose gender presentation does not align with societal norms.
In Canada, citizens who do not identify strictly as male or female have had the option to list their gender as “X” on identification documents since 2019. Despite this progress, concerns about the potential spread of anti-LGBTQ+ ideologies from the U.S. to Canada persist. Pauline Emerson-Froebe, president of Pembina Valley Pride, highlighted the importance of supporting queer and trans individuals in the face of discriminatory policies.
Emerson-Froebe emphasized that trans individuals are an integral part of the community and should not be targeted as distractions from pressing issues like healthcare and cost of living. They urged for solidarity and support within the queer community, reassuring members that their existence is valid and essential.
In response to the distress caused by Trump’s actions, Manitoba Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara, who is non-binary, shared a message of resilience and unity on Instagram. Asagwara encouraged Manitobans to prioritize compassion and acceptance within their own communities, emphasizing the importance of embracing diversity and upholding human rights.
The impact of Trump’s executive order on transgender individuals in Manitoba and beyond serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing fight for equality and acceptance. It is crucial for allies and advocates to stand together in solidarity with the 2SLGBTQ+ community, reaffirming the message that all individuals deserve respect, dignity, and the right to exist authentically.
