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Fighting back: How to respond to Trump’s executive order on gender-affirming care

Fighting back: How to respond to Trump’s executive order on gender-affirming care
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It's not over until it's over, and the fight hasn't even begun.

@andrewjstillman

President Donald Trump has signed a number of harmful executive orders (EOs) since his January 20 inauguration, but his attack against transgender people, “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation,” has sent shockwaves through the LGBTQ+ community.

Framing gender-affirming care as “mutilation,” the order bans access to puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgeries for anyone under 19, defunds institutions that support such care, and seeks to delegitimize transgender health guidelines.

It's demoralizing, to say the least. But that is likely part of the point.

Activists, however, refuse to back down. We spoke with three LGBTQ+ advocates on how to navigate this moment, support trans youth, and fight back against this sweeping attack on transgender rights.

Hope is not lost, even if it feels that way

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Despite the grim reality of this executive order, advocates insist that this fight is far from over.

Amethysta Herrick, Founder and Editor-in-Chief at Purplepaw Publications, LLC, which produces Gender Identity Today, stresses that legal battles are inevitable. “Trump’s Executive Order limits access to health care, which will be challenged under the 14th Amendment as well as Title VII and XI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,” she says. “There is very little chance this EO will become the law of the land.”

Mell McCracken, Executive Director at No Matter What Recovery, echoes this sentiment. “There’s always hope, though sometimes it appears that there’s very little to cling onto,” they say. “We must remember all of the strides we’ve made in terms of social progress including civil rights, LGBTQ rights, gay marriage, etc. were initially met with extreme aversion and hostility. Despite these seemingly insurmountable challenges, we won these fights through perseverance, determination and patience.”

Supporting trans youth in the wake of this ban

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The best way to counteract the harm caused by this policy is through direct support. Don’t forget, your voice still matters even if others try to silence it, and Herrick reminds us, “Adding every voice to the fight helps—one voice can inspire another ten voices, and every chance we have is worth it.”

Dylan Thomas Cotter, a transgender rights advocate and publicist with The Cotter Creative, emphasizes community engagement. “Get connected with your local PFLAG and LGBTQIA+ centers,” he advises. “Follow trans activists and creators as we are sharing community updates as they arise in real-time.”

McCracken also stresses the importance of education and outreach. “Reach out to congressmen and your local legislators to express your support for the trans community—they need to hear from you,” they say. “Enlist your friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, fellow church members, fellow students, etc., by educating them about the daily struggles faced by this vulnerable population.”

Taking action in both blue and red states

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You may feel like you’re a lone wolf in a sea of red if you’re waving a blue flag in a conservative state. Heck, you may even feel like a lone wolf waving the blue flag around progressive people, too!

Regardless of location, there are actions that can be taken to push back against these policies. Cotter notes that in all states, people can get involved with local government. “You can speak at public meetings and hearings, start petitions, donate to nonprofits like the ACLU to support their work defending trans people’s rights, and provide mutual aid,” he says. “Continue to speak out.”

McCracken adds that political mobilization is key. “We must fight any unfair, discriminatory policies, ordinances, and practices targeting the trans community by mounting petitions, speaking out at city council meetings, writing op-eds in local newspapers, speaking out on social media networks, etc.,” they say. “We must also mobilize our efforts politically by running for public office (including school boards).”

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Fighting back from home

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Activism isn’t limited to in-person efforts. Herrick highlights the power of visibility and online advocacy, encouraging people to “come out as transgender. When the random person meets a real transgender person, it makes hate and discrimination that much more difficult.”

Cotter urges people to get involved digitally. “Volunteer with your local LGBTQIA+ friendly politicians, sign petitions, share your thoughts with the world on social media in solidarity,” he says.

While the policy is a direct attack, resources still exist. McCracken points to national organizations like Lambda Legal, GLAAD, and the ACLU. “For those in crisis situations, the Trevor Project has proven to be a lifesaver,” they add.

Pushing back against Trump’s ‘shock and awe’ strategy

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Trump’s barrage of executive orders is designed to overwhelm and discourage activists. Herrick, like those of us on the sane side of the spectrum, sees through this tactic. “Trump’s sudden deluge of Executive Orders makes it easy to feel defeated because that’s the purpose,” she says. “By throwing out 200 EOs, all with vague and indefensible verbiage, we are overwhelmed by the amount of misinformation we must combat.”

Cotter offers a different form of resistance: Joy. He says he celebrates “trans joy in every moment I have, either public or private,” because “the opposition hates to see us win, but every day, by existing in our authenticity, we do. Honoring our trans joy unapologetically is, in my opinion, the best pushback.”

McCracken agrees. “Setbacks are part and parcel with any progressive movement,” they say. “We must acknowledge that fact and refuse to be defeated by it. The best way to face these challenges is by taking action.”

Take a deep breath… we’ll get through this (somehow)

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The Trump administration’s executive orders are an outright attack on transgender lives, but this fight hasn’t even started yet, my darlings. Legal battles are ahead, support systems remain strong, and the most powerful tool remains resistance—whether that’s through direct activism, community care, or simply refusing to be erased.

As Herrick put it: “We are not beaten, and we are not going away. We are citizens of the United States and possess the same rights as any Trump supporter. We must just choose our battles.”

And in choosing those battles, we must always remind them of our ability to come together as a community, which is more important now than ever.

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