But all that progress could be rolled back if the new definition of sex becomes entrenched in government policy.
“There’s a lot of concern that when you’re not recognizing the existence of transgender people, you’re not going to be doing research on them, you’re not going to be collecting data on them, and you’re not going to be addressing the health disparities that they face,” Sánchez said.
Advocates for transgender, nonbinary, and intersex people have been quick to condemn the order. Chase Strangio, a staff attorney at the ACLU’s LGBTQ & HIV Project, wrote in a blog post that it was “a travesty” that would harm “transgender and nonbinary people who are just trying to live their lives and access necessary health care.”
Strangio also noted that the order would likely impact Title IX protections for transgender athletes, who have faced a wave of state-level legislation seeking to bar them from competing in sports that align with their gender identity.
But the most immediate impact of the order is on the federal workforce. Under Trump’s directive, federal agencies have been instructed to adopt the new definition of sex when enforcing Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits sex discrimination in the workplace.
“The federal government should never be in the business of erasing people’s identities or making it harder for them to access essential services,” said Harper Jean Tobin, director of policy at the National Center for Transgender Equality. “But that’s exactly what this executive order does.”
Despite the legal and scientific issues with the executive order, experts are hopeful that it will not stand.
“The scientific community is pretty united in the understanding that sex is not binary,” Sánchez said. “There’s a lot of pushback on this kind of thinking, and I think that gives me hope that it won’t be a permanent change.”
But for now, transgender, nonbinary, and intersex Americans are left wondering what the future holds for their rights and their health.
“It’s a scary time to be a trans person in this country,” said Jules Gill-Peterson, a historian at Johns Hopkins University who studies transgender history. “But it’s also a time when we can come together as a community and fight for our rights. We’ve done it before, and we’ll do it again.”
By 2030, transgender individuals are facing a higher than average risk of contracting HIV. This alarming trend is a cause for concern, especially in light of the current political climate and policies that may exacerbate the challenges faced by this vulnerable population.
The Trump administration’s executive order to erase the concept of gender identity from all government communications and potentially end funding for projects that acknowledge gender identity is a major setback for the transgender community. This move not only threatens the crucial research being done on how sex and gender influence the brain, but also perpetuates prejudice and discrimination against transgender, nonbinary, and intersex individuals.
Elvisha Dhamala, a neuroscientist at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, is worried about the implications of these policies. She believes that they will only make transgender individuals more susceptible to harm and discrimination in all aspects of their lives. This is a troubling prospect that could have far-reaching consequences for the health and well-being of transgender people.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have not yet provided any response to these concerns. The recent directive to pause all external communications from federal health agencies until the end of January only adds to the uncertainty surrounding the future of research and support for transgender individuals.
Mike England, a spokesperson for the National Science Foundation, has stated that the organization is reviewing the new executive orders and implementing them accordingly. This suggests that there may be significant changes in how federal funding is allocated for research projects that focus on gender identity and transgender health.
In conclusion, the increased risk of HIV among transgender individuals by 2030 is a pressing issue that requires immediate attention and action. The policies and directives from the Trump administration could further marginalize and harm this already vulnerable population. It is essential for government agencies, researchers, and healthcare providers to prioritize the needs of transgender individuals and work towards creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for all.
