Lawyers and advocacy groups advise members of the LGBTQ+ community to take precautions under Trump's executive order

Source: CNN Health

Updated 7:43 AM EST, Wed January 22, 2025


CNN — Lawyers and advocacy organizations are encouraging members of the LGBTQ+ community to act quickly to protect the rights that are still in place after President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring the United States government will officially recognize only two sexes — male and female — that are not changeable.

While the future of other LGBTQ+ rights under the new administration remains uncertain, the decision is part of his broader plan to end federal efforts to “socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life,” Trump said in his inaugural address. However, many LGBTQ+ rights advocacy groups are already taking a stand against the executive order, and some national organizations such as Lambda Legal have said they are preparing to challenge Trump’s decision in court.

“(T)he incoming administration seeks to limit protections against sex discrimination and abuse, denying science while also making life immeasurably harder for intersex, nonbinary, and of course transgender people,” said Kevin Jennings, CEO of Lambda Legal, in a statement shared via email. The nonprofit advocates for the civil rights of LGBTQ+ people. “Lambda Legal secured the first U.S. passport with an ‘X’ gender marker for our brave client, Dana Zzyym, and we’ll continue to stand with Dana and all intersex, nonbinary, and transgender people to defend their right to identity documents that accurately identify who they are.”

The president’s actions will reverse initiatives established under the Biden administration that aimed to safeguard the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly those who are transgender or nonbinary. For anyone experiencing discrimination based on their gender identity, advocacy groups such as Lambda Legal or the American Civil Liberties Union, or ACLU, can provide support.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/22/health/lgbtq-rights-trump-executive-order-wellness/index.html