Executive Orders Impacting the LGBTQ+ Community

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Defining Sex as Binary in Federal Policy (a/k/a “Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government”)

Issued: January 20, 2025

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What It Does:

• Mandates that all federal agencies define sex as biological (male or female) as assigned at birth.

• Removes federal recognition of gender identity or non-binary identities from government documentation.

• Ends federal funding for gender-affirming care in government-supported health programs.

• Requires that prison facilities house inmates based on their sex assigned at birth.

 

Legal Challenges:

• ACLU and Lambda Legal announced lawsuits, arguing this policy erases federal protections for transgender and non-binary individuals.

• A federal judge temporarily blocked the transfer of a transgender inmate from a women’s to a men’s facility, marking the first court challenge to this order.

 

Source: https://www.aclu.org/news/lgbtq-rights/trumps-executive-orders-promoting-sex-discrimination-explained

 

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Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling

Issued: January 27, 2025

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What It Does:

• Revokes funding from schools that support transgender students’ gender transitions.

• Bans transgender students from participating in sports that align with their gender identity.

• Restricts bathroom access for transgender students.

• Requires teachers to notify parents if a student changes their gender identity (even if unsafe to do so).

 

Legal Challenges:

• Lambda Legal & Human Rights Campaign are preparing lawsuits, arguing the policy violates students’ rights and safety.

• Advocates argue it targets and endangers transgender minors.

 

Source: https://lambdalegal.org/newsroom/us_20250129_trump-executive-order-for-department-of-education-actively-puts-lgbtq-students-in-harms-way

 

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Reinstating the Ban on Transgender Individuals in the Military (a/k/a “Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness”)

Issued: January 27, 2025

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What It Does:

• Reinstates the ban on transgender individuals serving in the U.S. military.

• Blocks enlistment for individuals who do not conform to their biological sex.

• Ends medical coverage for transgender service members’ gender-affirming care.

 

Legal Challenges:

• Lawsuits filed by active-duty service members, challenging the policy as unconstitutional discrimination.

• GLAD and NCLR argue that the policy violates equal protection rights.

 

Source:https://www.reuters.com/world/us/how-transgender-troops-prepared-fight-trumps-new-policy-2025-01-29

 

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Banning Gender-Affirming Care for Minors (a/k/a "Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation")

Issued: January 28, 2025

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What It Does:

• Prohibits doctors from providing hormone therapy and gender-affirming surgeries for individuals under 19.

• Criminalizes medical professionals who provide such care.

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Legal Challenges:

• Medical organizations (American Academy of Pediatrics, AMA) are preparing lawsuits.

• Advocates argue the ban violates parental rights and medical autonomy.

 

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2025/jan/28/donald-trump-executive-orders-transgender-troops-dei-covid-us-politics-live

 

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Eliminating DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) Programs in Federal Agencies (a/k/a “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing”)

Issued: January 28, 2025

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What It Does:

• Dismantles DEI programs in all federal agencies.

• Removes DEI training from federal workplaces.

• Ends consideration of diversity in hiring, promotion, and government contracting.

 

Legal Challenges:

• Federal employee unions and civil rights groups argue this violates equal employment rights.

• Expected to be challenged as a violation of civil rights laws.

 

Source: https://apnews.com/article/88a92c8485281d7c088c5eafe5dbf002

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Banning Transgender Girls and Women from Girls/Women's Sports (a/k/a "Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports")

Issued: Feb 5, 2025

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What It Does:

• Prohibits transgender girls and women from competing in female sports at schools and colleges.

• Schools fear losing federal funding if they allow trans students to participate.

 

Legal Challenges & Activism:

• The National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) and LGBTQ+ sports organizations are suing, arguing that the policy violates Title IX protections and that trans athletes do not have an unfair advantage.

• Some colleges and high schools are refusing to enforce the ban in liberal states.

 

Source: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/keeping-men-out-of-womens-sports/

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New York State/Westchester County Additional Protections

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Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act (SONDA) prohibits discrimination based on actual or perceived sexual orientation in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, credit, and the exercise of civil rights.

• Source: https://ag.ny.gov/resources/individuals/civil-rights/sexual-orientation-non-discrimination-act-sonda

 

Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) [effective since February 24, 2019], adds gender identity and expression as protected categories under the state's Human Rights Law. This law prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, and education based on gender identity or expression.

• Source: https://dhr.ny.gov/genda

 

The New York State Constitution was amended [effective January 1, 2025] to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy. This amendment strengthens existing protections and ensures comprehensive anti-discrimination measures are constitutionally enshrined.

• Source: https://dos.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2025/01/constitution-january-1-2025.pdf

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In Westchester County, the local Human Rights Law aligns with state protect ions, prohibiting discrimination in employment, public accommodations, housing, commercial space, land transactions, and credit based on sexual orientation and gender identity

• Source:https://library.municode.com/ny/westchester%20county/codes/code%20of%20ordinances?nodeld=PTIIADCO%20CH277BOCO%20ARTXIXLGADBO

 

 

 

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*Last Updated: February 11, 2025*