Trump’s ‘two sexes’ executive order comes on heels of SCOTUS accepting another challenge to LGBT agenda

In his first week in office, President Donald Trump wasted no time in fulfilling his campaign promise to challenge “gender ideology” in American institutions and promote what he calls “biological truth.” His executive actions have sparked controversy and could potentially impact two significant gender-related cases currently before the Supreme Court.

One of the cases, Mahmoud v. Taylor, will determine whether schools can require teachers to read LGBTQ books to elementary-age children against parental objections. The key issue at stake is whether parents have the right to opt their children out of such instruction. Sarah Marshall Perry, a senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation, emphasized that the Supreme Court must focus solely on the facts presented in the cases and should not be influenced by Trump’s executive order.

Another case, Skrmetti v. U.S., questions whether states can ban medical providers from offering puberty blockers and hormone treatments to children seeking transgender surgical procedures. The Biden administration has joined the lawsuit, filing a petition to the Supreme Court in November 2023. Perry highlighted the importance of parental involvement in legal challenges and expressed confidence in the current administration’s stance on biological reality and the rule of law.

Trump’s executive order, titled “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” asserts that the U.S. will only recognize two sexes – male and female – based on immutable biological characteristics. The order prohibits the use of gender identity in legal and administrative contexts, mandates adherence to this definition in federal agencies, and directs changes to government-issued identification documents. It also rescinds previous executive actions promoting gender identity inclusion and instructs federal agencies to eliminate conflicting guidance or regulations.

This executive order reverses the Biden administration’s previous order aimed at preventing discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. The stark contrast in approach reflects a shift in philosophical and political ideologies, with Trump’s administration prioritizing what he defines as biological truth and rejecting gender ideology extremism.

As these gender-related cases unfold in the Supreme Court, the implications of Trump’s executive order on federal policies and regulations remain to be seen. The intersection of politics, law, and social issues continues to shape the landscape of gender identity and equality in America.