Former President Donald Trump has vowed to reverse a new Biden administration policy that aims to offer protections for transgender students under the Title IX federal civil rights law—if he is elected to a second term. Trump made this announcement during a speech in Iowa in March, where he also promised to cut federal funding for schools that promote what he called “critical race theory, transgender insanity, and other inappropriate content” to children. He has been vocal in his opposition to gender-affirming care for minors, proposing measures to restrict federal funding and block doctors from providing such care to transgender individuals.
In a video released in January, Trump detailed his plans to restrict transgender rights, including blocking doctors who offer gender-affirming care from Medicare and Medicaid, forbidding federal agencies from promoting the concept of sex and gender transition at any age, and tasking the Justice Department with investigating the medical industry for allegedly covering up the side effects of gender transitions. He also promised severe consequences for educators who suggest to children that they could be “trapped in the wrong body.” Additionally, he announced plans to ban transgender individuals from competing in women’s sports during a speech in Texas in 2022.
Despite Trump’s strong stance against transgender rights, his daughter Tiffany Trump defended his relationship with the LGBTQ community at a “Trump Pride” event in Florida in 2020. She noted that prior to politics, he supported the gay and lesbian community, without mentioning transgender individuals. Trump himself has claimed to be a “real friend” of the gay community, even hosting a gathering of the conservative LGBTQ organization, Log Cabin Republicans, at Mar-A-Lago in December 2022. However, his administration enacted numerous policies that rolled back protections for transgender individuals, including banning them from serving in the military, a policy that President Biden has since reversed.
The Biden administration’s expansion of Title IX, which will prohibit federally funded schools from discriminating against transgender students, is set to take effect on August 1. However, more than 20 Republican-led states are suing the administration to block the law. Trump and Republicans have also criticized President Biden for recognizing Transgender Day of Visibility, which coincided with Easter Sunday this year. Trump’s campaign falsely claimed that Biden chose to mark the advocacy day on Easter, even though it has fallen on March 31 since 2009, and the Biden administration has consistently recognized the day during his presidency. Despite Trump’s ongoing attacks on transgender rights, he has faced backlash from the LGBTQ community for his policies and statements.
Overall, Trump’s recent promises to restrict transgender rights and reverse protections for transgender students under Title IX highlight his continued opposition to LGBTQ rights. As he positions himself for a potential second term, his stance on these issues will likely be a key point of contention in any future political campaigns. The Biden administration’s actions to bolster protections for LGBTQ individuals, including gay and transgender people in healthcare, stand in stark contrast to the policies enacted during Trump’s time in office, setting the stage for ongoing debates and discussions surrounding LGBTQ rights in the United States.
