Identifying as transgender in America has transformed from something prideful and expressive to something shameful and fearful. The concept of being ‘transgender,’ which only began to be recognized in the 20th century, has existed since the very first civilizations. While not always understood, even to this day, the identity has been accepted for centuries. As years passed, the rights of transgender and non-binary people joined the ranks of those for women and people of color, the community’s acceptance representing America’s further progression toward becoming more inclusive and accepting. Accommodations for the transgender community were becoming more prevalent, such as on April 11th, 2022, when the U.S. government made the ‘X’ gender marker available on passports and driver’s licenses.
But in recent times, the transgender community has come under fire by the government, who believe those a part of the community are a threat to the American way of life. After President Trump was sworn in, he began issuing executive orders that removed progress made during the Biden administration. One such order, titled “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” eliminated the ‘X’ gender marker introduced just three years earlier. Consequently, those with the ‘X’ marker on their passports who need to renew them will now be required to choose either an ‘M’ or ‘F’ marker based on their birth certificates.
But why roll this back?
As of 2022, the percentage of the American population that identifies as transgender is only 0.6% of those 18 years and older, or around 1.6 million people. To have such a small population of people instill such a sense of disdain and hatred in others is concerning, as transgender people merely want to live as their true selves in peace yet remain under scrutiny every day. While the attacks on and removal of rights for the transgender community are troubling in their own right, they sadly indicate a larger societal issue.
If the federal government can pass bills and orders that dictate how a minority group, such as the transgender community, lives, what is stopping it from dictating how other minorities live? With ambiguous wording and the full backing of those solely focused on increasing their power, American lawmakers have the ability to effect change, but not the kind of change that is just.
