How Trans People in Birmingham respond to Trump’s executive orders about “sexual identity” – Birmingham Times

By Barnet Wright | Birmingham Times

Sydney Kay Duncan, a writer, a lawyer and a trance woman living in Birmingham, never thought she would have a terrible feeling not to feel welcome in my own country, “Duncan said.

But this is happening with Duncan and other members of the Trans Community of Birmingham, they say, as President Donald Trump returned to office two weeks ago and began to sign numerous executive orders (EOS) aimed at the LGBTQ Community. These include limiting access to gender -affirming care, prohibitions of transgender persons from serving openly in the military and eliminating programs for diversity, justice and inclusion in federal agencies.

“Trump’s executive orders and the policies they intend to introduce will cause deep harm to transgender people and do nothing to improve the lives of everyday Americans,” Duncan said. “They are cruel policies designed to demonize a minority population …”

Gina Malishan, Director of AIDS at ALABAMA and CEO of the Jefferson County Memorial Project, said transgender people face “significant challenges, including restrictions on access to health and military service. This forces the community to prepare for failure, while continuing to fight for equality in an increasingly conventional environment. “

Queer’s legal landscape “is again marked by increased tension and uncertainty,” Malishan continued. “Policies aimed at canceling protection for LGBTQia+ individuals, especially transgender people, create fear and vulnerability.”

Trump’s EC was not a secret for most in the transgender community. During his campaign for his second term, he made the sexual identity at the focal point of his start for president.

“I am completely surprised by what is happening,” said Sylvia Suin, the first Alabama Trans candidate to run unsuccessfully for the place of the Chamber 55 in the main outflow of the democratic from 2023. “It’s just more than I thought that it will be. If someone who pays attention not only to Donald Trump’s policy … but his story as a whole should not be surprised at what is happening. “

“We were once this time with the same president,” said Daronisha Boyd, founder and CEO of Transgender Advocate, knowing and empowering (pick up), non -profit in Birmingham, which provides holistic services to transgenic individuals, “and it’s the same behavior, Which continues to inflict us, which I consider to be real hatred because it is not a matter of governance of America. “

This is a point that has been made a number of trance people in Birmingham.

“[Trump’s EOs] Whether cruel policies are intended to demonize the minority population in order to maintain a committed and distracted by the fact that they have no real political solutions to the real problems we face the country, “Duncan said. “Trans harassment does not lower food prices, does not solve crime, creates jobs or provides our boundaries.”

Swine agreed. “Many transgender legislation is often used to target other groups or distract people from real problems … When we spend all our time conversations about trance people, we don’t expand Medicaid in Alabama, we don’t do things to all .. We want to make sure that our children are taking care of each other, we want to make sure that we have access to health and jobs – Trans people and the LGBTQ community are not a problem. “

So, what is happening now?

“We will continue to fight, especially as black trans women, we understand what it means to be in place of difficulties and most of all in survival mode. What is currently considered a crisis for most Americans has always been a crisis for us for 100 years or better, “Boyd said.

“In a region marked by struggle and resistance, we can face marginalization, but we are not unknown to persistence …” Malishan said.

Don’t expect trance to go anywhere, Duncan said. “Trans people have a place in the world. We have and we will always exist and no policy or law will never erase us, “Duncan said.