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The LGBTQ+ community has always been about advocacy, inclusion, and the fight for equality. Progress has been made for decades, hard-won rights secured, and visibility increased. But today, we are witnessing a dangerous rollback, explicitly targeting the most vulnerable members of our community—transgender people.
The Trump administration has made it clear: trans people are in their crosshairs. From erasing "TQ+" from federal documentation to enforcing policies that insist only two genders exist, banning trans athletes, and stripping protections from trans individuals, this administration is testing the waters of public resistance.
This is not happening in a vacuum. As I discussed in a previous blog, Trump and White "Christian" Nationalists see trans people as a direct threat to their rigid, traditional gender roles. Their efforts to erase trans identities stem from an ideological battle over who gets to define gender, family, and societal norms.
But this isn’t just about trans rights—it’s about all LGBTQ+ rights. History has shown that when those in power succeed in erasing one marginalized group, others follow. The domino effect is accurate, and we must recognize that the attack on trans people today is an attack on all of us tomorrow.
A Shared History of Struggle and Activism
The LGBTQ+ movement was built on the bravery of trans people. During the Stonewall Riots of 1969, trans activists like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera were on the frontlines, fighting back against police brutality and discrimination. Their contributions laid the foundation for the rights the broader LGBTQ+ community has gained since.
Throughout history, both trans and LGB individuals have faced systemic discrimination in employment, healthcare, housing, and legal recognition. The LGBTQ+ movement has always been most decisive when it has stood together, yet that unity is now being tested as trans people face targeted attacks.
The Trump Administration’s Attacks on Trans and Queer People
The latest wave of attacks is not subtle—it’s a coordinated effort to erase trans people from existence in legal, social, and cultural spaces. Some of the most egregious policies include:
Erasing Trans People from Federal Documentation – The Trump administration has removed mentions of "TQ+" from government websites, documentation, and policies, subtly reinforcing the idea that trans and queer identities do not exist.
Enforcing the Gender Binary – New policies mandate that only two genders exist, ignoring the lived realities of transgender and nonbinary people.
Banning Trans Athletes – By prohibiting trans people from participating in sports, the administration reinforces exclusion and discrimination against trans youth.
Rolling Back Protections – Efforts to strip healthcare, workplace, and educational protections from trans individuals further marginalize and endanger them.
This isn’t just about policy; it’s about sending a message that trans people don’t belong in society. And if we allow this to go unchallenged, it won’t stop here.
The Domino Effect: Trans Erasure is Just the Beginning
When one marginalized group is erased or targeted, others follow. We've seen this pattern throughout history:
Nazi Germany started by targeting Jewish people but quickly expanded persecution to LGBTQ+ individuals, Romani people, disabled people, and political dissidents.
In the Jim Crow South, laws that initially suppressed Black voters later expanded to restrict immigrant and poor white populations.
When Roe v. Wade was overturned, attacks on LGBTQ+ rights—including threats to same-sex marriage—escalated.
This isn’t fear-mongering—it’s a historical reality. The Trump administration’s attacks on trans people are a test. If they succeed in rolling back trans rights with little resistance, they will move on to attacking broader LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive rights, and other civil liberties.
Overlapping Identities Within the LGBTQ+ Community
Trans people are not separate from the LGBTQ+ community—they are an essential part of it. Many trans individuals are also lesbian, gay, bisexual, or queer.
Excluding trans people not only weakens the movement but erases those who exist at the intersection of gender diversity and queerness. If we allow transphobia to take root within LGBTQ+ spaces, we will enable the division that anti-LGBTQ+ forces rely on to dismantle our progress.
The Harm of Exclusion and the Importance of Inclusion
Some within the LGBTQ+ community argue that trans issues should be separate from broader LGBTQ+ advocacy. This is not only inaccurate but also dangerous.
Transphobia within the LGBTQ+ community weakens the fight for equality for all.
Gatekeeping within the movement only reinforces societal stigma.
A divided community is an easy target—an inclusive LGBTQ+ movement is a stronger one.
The fight for LGBTQ+ rights is incomplete without trans inclusion. If we turn our backs on trans people now, we make it easier for the opposition to strip rights from all of us later.
Moving Forward: How We Can Support Trans Inclusion and Resist Erasure
We must act now to ensure trans people remain visible, protected, and included. Here’s how:
Educate and Advocate – Speak out against misinformation, transphobia, and attempts to erase trans people from LGBTQ+ history and spaces.
Resist Policy Attacks – Support organizations that fight for trans rights, vote against anti-trans legislation and challenge discriminatory policies.
Ensure Inclusive Spaces – Ensure LGBTQ+ organizations, events, and resources fully embrace trans and nonbinary individuals.
Support Trans-Led Initiatives – Uplift trans voices, businesses, and advocacy groups leading the fight for justice.
Trans people have always been a vital part of the LGBTQ+ community and must not be erased. The current attacks on trans rights are not just about trans people—they are a warning sign for all marginalized groups.
The domino effect is real. If we allow trans people to be erased today, we may wake up tomorrow to find that marriage equality, protections for queer youth, and even broader civil rights are on the chopping block.
We must stand together. The time to act is now!
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