US President Donald Trump has signed an order recognising only two sexes, namely male and female. He also declared that these sexes cannot be changed. He issued executive orders shortly after his inauguration that aim to change the US government’s policies on gender and diversity. This is in line with what he promised during his election campaign.
Trump reverses Biden’s directive
Trump reversed orders from the Biden administration, calling them ‘unpopular, inflationary, illegal, and radical practices within every agency and office of the Federal Government’, according to the BBC.
One of these was a Biden directive that the Biden administration implemented with the aim to stop discrimination against people based on their gender identity or sexual orientation. Secondly, Trump implemented an order that acknowledges only two sexes – male and female – and stated that these are unchangeable. ‘These sexes are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality,’ reads the statement. It also stipulates that the word ‘sex is not a synonym for and does not include the concept of gender identity’. Going forward it, will be the official policy of the US government that there are only these two sexes.
Trump has also made wider promises about woke culture, gender, and DEI (diversity, equality and inclusion) programmes.
Trump’s stance on transgender rights
The gender order issued by The White House states that it will ‘defend women’s rights and protect freedom of conscience by using clear and accurate language and policies that recognise women are biologically female, and men are biologically male’.
The order clearly states that ‘sex shall refer to an individual’s immutable biological classification as either male or female’.
Throughout the 2024 campaign, Trump promoted a conventional perspective on gender or sex. He, along with his supporters, criticised Democrats for supporting transgender rights.
He has criticised policies that allow transgender athletes – whether in school, college, or professional players – to compete in teams that match their gender identity, arguing this could harm women’s sports programmes.
Additionally, Trump and many other Republicans have called for banning certain kinds of medical treatment for transgender minors.
What is your opinion on the debate around sexes and gender identity? Do you agree or disagree with Trump’s stance? Why?
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