Donald Trump has commenced his second term by signing a series of executive orders, including one that revokes the Equal Employment Opportunity order signed by former President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965. The historic order previously prohibited workplace discrimination based on race, colour, religion, national origin, and sex.

This means that US federal government contractors are no longer bound by anti-discrimination rules in their hiring and employment processes, scrapping over 60 years of equal opportunities in the workplace.

In addition to revoking the Equal Employment Opportunity order, Trump also dismantled diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programmes, diverging from his predecessor Joe Biden’s policies. DEI initiatives aim to promote opportunities for women, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other traditionally underrepresented groups. Trump’s order explicitly stated these policies “threaten the safety of American men, women, and children” by potentially undermining individual merit in job selection.

Simultaneously, Trump mandated that all federal employees return to full-time office work, further signalling a significant policy shift from the previous administration.

These actions ironically came after the national prayer service in Washington, when Trump, who was in attendance, was implored by Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde to “have mercy” on LGBTQ+ people and migrants.

On his inauguration day, Trump also signed an anti-trans executive order asserting there are “only two sexes”, as well as a series of other anti-LGBTQ+ directives.

The executive orders comprehensively reversed previous protections, affecting sex discrimination policies, gender-neutral identification documents, and inmates’ housing arrangements aligned with gender identity.

This created a widespread response from LGBTQ+ organisations in Ireland and internationally.

Cork-based LINC responded, stating, “We stand with our trans community members and affirm your right to exist, to thrive, and to be acknowledged for who you are. We see you and we are here if you want to chat.”

Belong To also took to Instagram to send a message of support to the community, stating: “We want to remind you, you are loved and we are here for you.”

 

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Julia Ehrt, ILGA World’s Executive Director, emphasised the danger these policies might set internationally: “If the United States wishes to be seen as a beacon of democracy, excluding population segments through discriminatory beliefs is unacceptable.”

Outright International has responded by calling upon politicians, governments, corporations, and human rights defenders worldwide to resist these discriminatory policies and collaborate on protecting transgender, non-binary, and intersex individuals.

Overall, each organisation’s response to Trump’s decision to erase protections for trans and non-binary Americans stressed that solidarity and collective action are crucial in defending and protecting the global LGBTQ+ community.