Sarah McBride, U.S. Representative from Delaware

The Trump Administration has gone after transgender people with a series of executive orders and rescinding of existing executive orders. The distinction in sex is male or female. There no longer is any gender identity or non-conforming gender expression. These orders are similar to the infamous North Carolina law of a decade ago, and they introduce restrictions on the use of public bathrooms. Public records must be changed to follow the new policies, and transgender people cannot be employed in government positions. This raises an issue of the sole transgender person serving in the U.S. Congress.

LGBTQ+ people no longer can claim discrimination in housing, employment, or public accommodations. These orders do not address the issue of whether lesbian or gay employees will be fired from public employment, but that is likely to come up soon. Employment in the military will be a separate Issue. Same sex marriage likely will be on the agenda even though it has been approved by the Supreme Court. Because we do not conform to the new definition of sex, our legal status probably will be changed. It also would require a reversal of a Supreme Court ruling to declare that gay/lesbian sex is a crime.

These are just the first steps in the direction to satisfy MAGA standards across all elements of society. The so-called Culture wars have been lost. How broadly they may be applied remains to be seen. Will the mere mention of LGBTQ+ in the media be forbidden? Will they forbid gay/lesbian books, films, and plays? Will existing publications be withdrawn from circulation and banned in libraries as they are now in some states? Can we expect massive book burnings? The Republicans appear unable to consider any limits on the Trump agenda, whether it Is lawful or not.

In the rush to break up government agencies and policies, the steps so far have resulted in widespread confusion that is impacting the economy as well as government policies. At this point, no one can predict where it may end. The goal is not simply to reduce federal employment numbers. It is to change how we are governed and how to change American society to confirm to a set of strict 19th Century standards.

I do not have space to consider the implications of what all the changes may mean in terms of racial equity. Will they revoke the Civil Rights Act of 1965? They already have gutted the Voting Rights Act. They have declared their intention to withdraw other Lyndon Johnson legislation, including Medicare and Medicaid. Of course, Social Security legislation goes all the way back to Roosevelt. The Republicans hated it then and have tried to kill it every time they have been in office.

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