President Trump, recently elected into office, implemented new policies, some of which target transgender individuals. Trump’s executive order strives to ban a variety of ideas deprived of transgender ideologies, such as hormone blockers for minors, the banning of transgender women athletes in teams of their non-biological gender, and further preventing the treatment of transgender care for youth. President Trump has made it obvious he is against supporting transgender people, with one of his officials even stating in regards to his policy on transgender athletes competing, “If you are coming into the country and you are claiming that you are a woman but you are a male here to compete against women, we’re going to be reviewing that for fraud.” However, efforts have been made to restrict transgender people from military service, which brings up the question: How will this policy affect people in government fields or the workplace, and why has this policy just now been put into order?
Actually, Trump’s policy may change the law for transgender persons to operate in government fields, but it hasn’t changed much historically. For years, transgender people have been subject to unfair treatment, and this law is just now officially limiting what transgender people can do in terms of work. For years, there has been a lack of representation in government. Recently, attempts to finally represent LGBTQ individuals have been prohibited, as shown in the anti-pride flag bills, a push to ban pride flags in all buildings that states have recently voted on. New Jersey, one of the most supportive LGBTQ states with legal protections put into place to prohibit discrimination, has a borough introducing an ordinance that would ban such flags from town property.
The policies Trump implements don’t just limit what these individuals can do but also make them more vulnerable to mental health challenges in an already vulnerable group that already faces discrimination, harassment, and threats that could further perpetuate difficulties in their ability to thrive in the workplace. Transgender individuals are already at higher risk for depression and other mental challenges, such as anxiety and the temptation of suicide, due to the high rates of discrimination they already face and the general lack of acceptance. The policies Trump has implemented directly go against basic human rights, such as being allowed to serve no matter who you are. The policies he put forward directly lead to a less inclusive workplace and can lead to situations where transgender employees don’t share the same opportunities as other employees for work advancement. The lack of supportiveness in the workplace can lead to higher unemployment rates, as there are about 2.3 million transgender people in America. The policies that affect transgender people in the workplace also directly affect people of color; half of transgender individuals working are also people of color. 60% of transgender individuals are already barely making a living, earning less than 50,000 a year. To go forward with such policies that impact transgender individuals so strongly is cruel and can result in many losing their jobs, putting them in major job instability, and lacking necessities and resources for a decent standard of living.
The policies Trump targets transgender individuals highly threaten their mental health, as well as physical well-being. Workplaces strive to be inclusive and welcoming, but with recent laws and companies failing to tend to their LGBTQ employees’ needs and protection, discrimination often goes unnoticed. Teachers College even states that studies show 27% of individuals were denied employment, promotion, or even fired due to their gender identity. America needs to work on the laws it pushes forward and consider how they affect its citizens long-term. Firing someone for being LGBTQ is illegal under Title VII of the Rights Act of 1964; however, America still finds ways to practice harmful discrimination, which is what, as a nation, we need to work to fix.
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