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Extra Credit: Trump Administration Considering Strict Definitions of "Sex" in Federal Law

This past week, the New York Times reported that the Trump administration is considering redefining "sex" in federal statute so that people's gender would be determined by the biological sex they are assigned to at birth. According to the Associate Press, "LGBT leaders across the U.S. reacted with fury Monday to a report that the Trump administration is considering adoption of a new definition of gender that would effectively deny federal recognition and civil rights protections to transgender Americans."
In today's Denver Post, transgender Coloradans respond to this possible change in law. For Owen Flaherty, a staff member at the LGBT Center of Colorado, "it's the pointed cruelty of the measure, to tell people you’re not going to honor their existence ... That you’re not going to honor your civil rights, you’re not going to honor our health care."

Celebrity Caitlyn Jenner, a former Trump supporter published her regrets this week, too, in the Washington Post, admitting that despite her early optimism that President Trump would be an ally of the LGBTQ community. "Sadly," she writes, "I was wrong. The reality is that the trans community is being relentlessly attacked by this president. The leader of our nation has shown no regard for an already marginalized and struggling community. He has ignored our humanity. He has insulted our dignity."

As we move into our next few weeks of class, let's pay attention to the news and better understand the  challenges and the injustices that LGBTQIA+ folks are facing, on campus, in our city and state, the United States, and internationally. What are you aware of that we should all know more about? Please share your insights in the comments below.


Comments

  1. UnknownNovember 2, 2018 at 10:43 AM

    As I was reading more about this in the news and just in my own personal lives, I'm realizing now is the best time to be an ally. It's easy to be an ally when things are going great in the world and in the LGBTQIA+ community, it's times like this when we have to stand up with the community and defend them. I was talking to a transgender friend of mine and it broke my heart to have him talk about his struggles and doubts. First his parents and family didn't believe that he was transgender and now it's the whole country. I think right now we need to advocate for the legitimacy of our transgender friends and family.

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