In the midst of his re-election campaign for a second term, former United States President Donald Trump stirred dialogue and generated concerns amongst civil rights groups, particularly those in defense of LGBTQ+ rights. The primary point of concern revolves around his administration’s reported second-term agenda, which was seen as conflicting with these groups’ quest for equality.
The Human Rights Campaign, an established entity backing LGBTQ+ rights, openly expressed its reservation regarding Trump’s proposal, fearing that it might lead to reversals of progress in LGBTQ+ equality made over the years. Amidst these apprehensions, the Trump administration seemingly didn’t distance itself from these claims and continuously created actions that troubled civil rights advocates.
One of the core issues that was noticed and criticized by advocacy groups was the appointing of conservative judges by Trump. Over his first term, the 45th President appointed a significant number of conservative judges in key positions across the judiciary, approximating a total of about 200 judges. This development raised eyebrows and sparked concerns especially amongst LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, as many of these judges are known for their broad conservative stances, which often conflict with liberal ideologies such as LGBTQ+ rights.
Furthermore, the Trump administration’s policy on transgender rights and issues further inflamed fears within the LGBTQ+ community. In particular, the administration, through the Department of Health and Human Services, had strongly proposed for sex to be defined as either male or female and determined by the genitals a person was born with, provoking an outcry from civil rights and transgender activists, coming off as an official attempt to essentially ‘erase’ transgenders from legal recognition.
Moreover, the administration’s actions regarding the Affordable Care Act resulted in massive changes to non-discrimination protections on the basis of gender identity and sex stereotyping. These changes were seen as directly unfavorable to the LGBTQ+ community and its allies, causing significant unease and worries.
The repealing of the anti-discrimination rule in health care under the Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act by the Trump administration especially drew strong criticism. This move, completed around June 2020, removed protections for LGBTQ+ people set against discrimination in health care practices. As a consequence, multiple civil rights groups and states took legal actions to block the rule from taking effect.
The agenda proposed by the Trump administration for its second term had especially alarmed LGBTQ+ advocates and civil rights groups. They feared that these policies, if proceeded with, would amount to a systemic reversal of strides made in LGBTQ+ rights and anti-discrimination efforts over the recent years. Given these actions and plans, it is clear that the queer community and its journey towards complete equality endured significant challenges during the Trump presidency.