As many Triton seniors reach the age of 18 and gain the right to vote, it’s important that discussions regarding the values of the forerunners on the ballot take place.
For starters, where does each party lie on transgender and queer issues? What is at stake for the community?
“Their lives, frankly…” said Charlie Hunter, a trans student in North Carolina – a controversial state for trans progress – when interviewed by the Triton Voice, “Trump being re-elected is a virtual death sentence for queer youth”.
Former President Donald Trump and current Vice President Kamala Harris have two opposing viewpoints on some of the most highly contested issues in our society today. The rights and wellbeing of transgender individuals being one of them. Trump’s administration and republican party has concerned themselves with the prospect of what they call protecting children, resulting in the outlawing of gender affirming care for minors across multiple red and swing states. Meanwhile, Harris’s view on the issue differs, with her policies and party being openly accepting of transgender individuals.
The Triton Voice has taken on an in-depth overview of each party and their relation to the LGBTQ+ community – with a focus on the trans population.
Trump on the issues:
The following are promises Donald Trump has made concerning trans rights:
Healthcare:
- He has vowed to stop gender affirming healthcare for minors
- He equates gender affirming care to child abuse
- Focused on outlawing gender affirming care
Education:
- He and his administration are threatening teachers / school funding for being inclusive to trans children
- Wants to roll back protections for transgender students
Government:
- His policies would ban federal agencies from “promoting the concept of transitioning at any age”
- He would also be asking congress to pass a bill making F and M the only legal, recognizable genders
Rhetoric:
- He has called gender affirming care and acceptance “gender insanity” and “child abuse”
- Has said being trans has been “created by the left”
- He has called transgender people “deranged”
- He recently ran an anti-trans campaign ad
The following is a collection of what Biden* and Harris have said about trans rights:
*Biden’s administration / the Democratic party is included here as Harris would likely improve and enforce upon the policies already standing/in waiting.
Healthcare:
- No proposed changes
Education:
- No proposed changes
Government:
- Biden has reopened the military to transgender individuals after Trump’s presidency
- Has also ordered federal agencies to protect LGBTQ+ people against discrimination
- Came from supreme court’s decision in Bostock V Clayton County that Civil Rights Act of 1964 (prevents discrimination on orientation and identity) applied further than employment
- Harris says she will fight to pass the Equality Act to protect anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQI+ Americans
Rhetoric:
- Has been openly accepting in the past with examples such as:
- Officiated some of the first same-sex marriages as Attorney General in 2004
- Refused to defend California’s reversal of marriage equality laws
Result:
Trump’s policies threaten the wellbeing of transgender Americans. By denying trans people fundamental rights to healthcare, protections and promoting a hostile environment towards us, his administration will be actively harming the community.
“It’s a terrifying prospect and one that frankly, removes what it fundamentally means to be a free country,” said Tan (who preferred not to share their last name due to fear of repercussions), a queer and trans student living in Texas – another hot button state for trans issues.
Statistics show that trans people who are denied the basic necessity of dignity and respect that other Americans receive, denied the healthcare they deserve and subjected to mental and physical harassment – have had their overall comfort, safety and livelihood threatened, with suicide being one of the leading causes of death for transgender people, especially our youth.
“I can’t say I feel safe,” said Hunter, “There are still plenty of laws against trans youth that directly affect my friends and I. I get harassed daily… today I was called slurs 3 separate times.”
While it looks like Democrats and specifically Harris have not done much recently for the cause, it is the fact that they have already laid down protections and have been defending them that makes them a preferable option for those at risk. Even if Harris does not protect these rights as she’s done before, voting for her ensures that the government can remain majorly Democrat and thus Congress and the Senate will be able to pass and reject bills to protect transgender rights more easily.
“The people in power have changed my life significantly with laws against queer youth and changes in education and such. As much as I’d like to say it doesn’t bother me, it absolutely does,” said Hunter. “I can never feel fully safe knowing the people in office and people in power, in both local and national levels, do not want what is best for me and my loved ones.”
There are staggering differences between the two candidates and the feeling towards either of their potential wins – Lee Warren, a Triton senior was asked her thoughts on the election.
“A majority of those who support Trump are older people who are now voting and making the decisions for my future and my lifetime,” said Warren. “It’s unfair that I can’t vote for my life.”
