Tag: education

What Trump’s Presidency Could Mean for Trans People: Potential Policies and Warning Signs to Watch

This blog is originally appeared at LGBTQ Nation

Why Allies Must Act: Defending Trans Rights Protects Everyone’s Freedoms

As the election dust settles, the focus shifts to practical realities. For transgender people like me, a pressing question looms: What actions will this new Trump administration take?

It’s tempting to jump to extreme conclusions—like the idea of being rounded up and placed in camps. But it likely won’t look like that. There won’t be “camps,” nor will there be overt “rounding up.” Instead, the approach will be more subtle, and that subtlety is precisely what makes it so dangerous.

The quiet nature of these changes will make them easier for cisgender people to overlook. However, their awareness is vital—not only for our survival but for their own protection, as the erosion of trans rights often signals broader attacks on freedoms that could ultimately affect everyone.

The groundwork for trans oppression is already being laid. In recent years, Republicans have pursued anti-trans legislation with alarming intensity, proposing over 1,000 laws targeting everything from medical care and bathroom usage to IDs, sports, and even how we dress. Trump has vowed to push similar policies at the federal level, and Project 2025 outlines an even more expansive agenda.

To understand what trans oppression under Trump might look like, we can look to other marginalized groups. For instance, the mass incarceration of Black men wasn’t achieved through blatant decrees like “round them up” but through systemic oppression: harsh laws with disproportionate penalties, over-policing, and economic barriers that strip away basic human needs. Trans people have already faced similar tactics, such as laws criminalizing “cross-dressing” to police our existence.

Under another Trump administration, this oppression might escalate. It could involve banning hormone replacement therapy and criminalizing those who seek it out. Policies might mandate that gender markers on IDs match sex assigned at birth, penalizing those of us who continue to live authentically with fraud or perjury charges. Involuntary commitment to mental institutions could even be a reality.

These measures, even if sporadically enforced, create an ever-present climate of fear—a psychological toll that leaves us constantly bracing for the next law, the next crackdown, the next violation of our humanity. And in this hostile environment, the silence or complacency of cisgender allies would make it all the easier for these oppressive systems to thrive.

The coming years will likely see escalating attacks on trans people, particularly the most marginalized among us—trans women of color, disabled trans people, and others who already face significant barriers. These policies will make it harder for them to access stable employment and lead precarious lives, amplifying systemic inequities.

We cannot wait for something as blatant as a “lock up all the trans people” decree. The oppression will come in quieter, more insidious forms: laws and policies that restrict our rights to healthcare, employment, and basic expression. Even if trans people comply with these laws, the result will still be a kind of prison—a life stripped of autonomy and dignity.

If you are cisgender, we need your help. Not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because these attacks on trans rights will eventually pave the way for attacks on your rights. Consider abortion access: for decades, conservatives framed their arguments around “protecting life” to avoid addressing bodily autonomy directly. But the fight against gender-affirming care removes that pretense altogether. By banning medically supported, evidence-based care simply because they don’t like it, lawmakers set a dangerous precedent that could extend to other healthcare decisions.

Your body could be next.

Employment and education are also at risk. Imagine a national “Don’t Say Gay/Trans” policy that bars teachers like me—who are openly transgender—from the profession. Policies like these won’t stop at targeting trans people. Deadnaming and misgendering trans students could morph into strict gendered dress codes for everyone, eroding freedom of expression for all students. What starts as an attack on trans rights often metastasizes into broader assaults on personal liberties.

As we approach January 20th, now is the time to act:

  • Get involved: Connect with your local LGBTQ+ center and see how you can support their efforts.
  • Stay informed: Follow trans journalists and activists to keep up with the latest developments.
  • Advocate: Write to your representatives in both parties, showing them that you stand with trans people.
  • Speak out: Use your voice, wear supportive messages, and engage your cisgender friends to build awareness.
  • Support trans people directly: Check in with your trans friends, especially now, as they navigate a political climate fueled by over $200 million of anti-trans rhetoric during the election. Let them know you’re there for them.

This isn’t just about protecting trans people—it’s about preserving freedom and dignity for everyone. Together, we can resist these threats and build a future where everyone has the right to live authentically.

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MAGA Education Official Instructs Schools to Show Video of Him Praying for Donald Trump

This blog is originally appeared at LGBTQ Nation


The Oklahoma Superintendent of Schools recently spent $25,000 in state funds on Trump Bibles.

Ryan Walters, the controversial Oklahoma Superintendent of Schools, has directed school districts statewide to show a video of him praying for President-elect Donald Trump. This unusual and politically charged directive, issued amidst a recall effort against Walters, has sparked strong opposition from local school administrators. The video and accompanying order were sent out to schools on Thursday.

At least seven major Oklahoma school districts announced Friday that they will not show a video in which Superintendent Ryan Walters discusses the objectives of his newly established Office of Religious Liberty and Patriotism, concluding with a prayer for former and future President Donald Trump.

The video, which carries a highly partisan tone, criticizes the “radical left” for attacking religious freedom in schools and accuses teacher unions of undermining patriotism.

“We will not tolerate that in any school in Oklahoma,” Walters declares in the video. “We want our students to be patriotic. We want our students to love this country, and we want all students’ religious liberty to be protected.”

The video wraps up with a prayer in which Walters asks for divine guidance for the nation’s leaders and specifically prays for Trump and his team.

“Dear God, thank you for all the blessings you’ve given our country. I pray for our leaders to make the right decisions. I pray in particular for Donald Trump and his team as they continue to bring about change to the country,” Walters says.

Edmond Public Schools Superintendent Angela Grunewald informed parents on Friday that her district will not disrupt its locally approved curriculum to show Walters’ video.

Grunewald emphasized that her district will continue to teach the Oklahoma state standards and the curriculum set by the local school board. “Any changes to that would be based on local decisions,” she said, citing a recent ruling by the Oklahoma Supreme Court that upheld the authority of local school districts to make such decisions.

Similarly, Midwest City-Del City Public Schools Superintendent Rick Cobb told the Oklahoma Voice that his district will not show the video. “We do not believe he has the statutory authority to require us to share this content,” Cobb said.

The Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office supported this stance, declaring the mandate unenforceable. “Not only is this edict unenforceable, it is contrary to parents’ rights, local control, and individual free-exercise rights,” said Attorney General spokesperson Phil Bacharach.

Newly sworn-in Democratic state Sen. Mark Mann, a former member of the Oklahoma City Board of Education, also urged other districts to resist the mandate. “When Oklahoma needs to make gains in reading and math scores, the last thing we need to be doing is pushing the superintendent’s blatant, self-serving political agenda,” Mann remarked.

Walters’ controversial order, which is seen as unenforceable, accompanies his ongoing effort to distribute 55,000 Bibles to Oklahoma schools. On the same day his prayer video was released, Walters posted another video celebrating the arrival of the first 500 Bibles in AP Government classrooms.

Walters’ budget request was specifically aimed at purchasing a version of the Bible known as the “Trump Bible,” which combines the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Old and New Testaments into a single Christian nationalist text. The initial purchase of these Bibles amounted to $25,000.

Walters has been mentioned as a potential candidate for Secretary of Education in Trump’s second-term Cabinet. Both Walters and Trump have advocated for the abolition of the U.S. Department of Education.

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A principal was dismissed for offering an “LGBTQ+ Kindness” class, and now his community is rallying in his defense

This blog is originally appeared at LGBTQ Nation.

The educator aimed to create a safe space for LGBTQ+ students, but some parents labeled it “perverted.”

A middle school community in Virginia is pushing back after their principal was dismissed for launching an “LGBTQ+ Kindness” flex-time class designed to offer a safe space for LGBTQ+ students.

Dr. Jerry Putt, who had served as principal of Frederick County Middle School since 2017, was removed from his position following a contentious school board debate over his actions, according to The Winchester Gazette.

The controversy erupted during a Frederick County School Board meeting on Tuesday, where a conservative group of parents and board members argued that the “LGBTQ+ Kindness” class strayed from state-approved curricula and labeled it “inappropriate.”

The leader of the opposition to the class, Chris Davey, a Back Creek District resident, called the optional “LGBTQ+ Kindness” class “perverted.” He criticized Dr. Putt for offering the course without prior parental notice and brought his concerns to the school board, where he found support.

In response, the board issued a warning to school staff, stating that any “unsanctioned curriculum” additions would not be tolerated and could result in termination. Just two days later, the board made an example of Dr. Putt by removing him from his position.

On Thursday, the school community received a notice from district superintendent Dr. George Hummer announcing Dr. Putt’s removal, with no explanation given, and the appointment of an interim principal.

Wendy Werner, a former counselor at the school, called the decision “appalling” and criticized the parents at the meeting as “hateful and uninformed.” In response, she and other community members have launched a grassroots campaign to reinstate Dr. Putt, starting with an online petition that has already gathered nearly 1,300 signatures in the small town. The petition has become a platform for community members to speak out about what they view as a campaign of anti-LGBTQ+ hate by the board and certain parent groups.

Local resident Luke Mason called the school board’s decision misguided. “The principal is out because he created opportunities for ALL students during the school day, and that was ‘off script,’” Mason wrote, questioning whether other extracurricular activities, like the “four-wheeler club” or pep rallies, would face similar scrutiny.

Sonia Marfatia-Goode raised concerns about discrimination, pointing out that one parent wanted the LGBTQ+ flex-time class canceled but had no objection to other flex-time offerings. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the division was sued over this,” she warned, highlighting potential legal repercussions.

Marfatia-Goode also noted that the increasingly divisive atmosphere at recent school board meetings was having a negative impact on students. “Children pay attention, and they are finding out that if you don’t want something, you yell and yell until you get your way,” she wrote.

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Ron DeSantis is forcing Florida colleges to remove their LGBTQ+-inclusive courses

This blog is originally appeared at LGBTQ Nation.

Florida’s 12 public universities are eliminating courses that may “distort significant historical events” or “teach identity politics” to comply with S.B. 266, a law passed by the state legislature in 2023. This law restricts schools from using state or federal funds for initiatives advocating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), or promoting political and social activism. In addition, it has led to the closure of LGBTQ+ student centers and the dismantling of cultural support programs on campuses.

As a result, universities are scrapping classes such as Anthropology of Race & Ethnicity, Introduction to LGBTQ+ Studies, Sociology of Gender, Women in Literature, Chinese Calligraphy, The History of Food and Eating, Humanities Perspectives on Gender and Sexuality, Social Geography, and a course on Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion. A class examining racial and gender inequality and crime, titled Social Problems, is also being impacted, according to a Politico report.

Some of these courses have been removed entirely, while others have lost their “general education” designation, meaning they will only be available as electives for upper-level students in certain disciplines, rather than as part of the broader general education curriculum. Additionally, some course descriptions and student outcomes have been revised to ensure compliance with the law.

The Board of Governors will review each institution’s proposed course offerings for the 2025-26 academic year and may suggest changes. Schools that refuse to comply could risk losing vital state funding or face other penalties from Governor Ron DeSantis and the Board.

Critics argue that this law undermines academic freedom, enforces government-approved viewpoints, and could drive talented students and educators away from Florida’s universities. Some also warn that the law could jeopardize the accreditation of certain schools that are required by national accreditation bodies to have DEI programs as a core component of their education. Others have expressed concern about the vague language of the law, which leaves many unsure about what is permitted and what is not.

Historically, decisions about course content have been left to individual universities. However, this law is part of Governor DeSantis’ broader effort to challenge DEI policies and shift the state’s educational institutions toward a more conservative ideology.

While signing the law in May 2023, DeSantis said, “DEI has basically been used as a veneer to impose an ideological agenda, and that is wrong. If you want to do things like gender ideology, go to Berkeley, go to some of these other places… You don’t just get to take taxpayer dollars and do whatever the heck you want to do and think that’s somehow OK.”

This law follows DeSantis’ 2022 signing of the so-called Stop WOKE Act, which bans educational programs on racism and gender-based discrimination in schools and businesses. That law is currently on hold as courts review its constitutionality.

Federal Judge Mark E. Walker, who blocked the Stop WOKE Act in 2022, described the law as “positively dystopian,” saying it “officially bans professors from expressing disfavored viewpoints in university classrooms while permitting unfettered expression of the opposite viewpoints.” He emphasized that academic freedom should allow professors to express their perspectives, as long as they do not only align with state-approved views.

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GOP Congressman claims U.S. isn’t worth defending due to presence of trans music teacher in 9/11 address

This blog originally appeared at LGBTQ Nation.

What exactly are we defending? What remains of the United States worth protecting?

Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) gave an extended speech on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks, during which he stated that the U.S. is no longer worth defending, citing a friend’s child’s transgender music teacher as a reason. He began his remarks by recognizing the significance of September 11 before transitioning to criticisms of immigrants.

“It serves as a reminder of the consequences of leaving your country vulnerable to attacks,” he stated before providing examples of immigrants involved in criminal activities. Roy expressed his support for mass deportations in response to these crimes, despite data indicating that immigrants are less likely to commit offenses than those born in the U.S.

In the midst of his speech, Roy launched into a tirade about what he considered wasteful government spending, labeling defense expenditures as unnecessary because, in his view, the U.S. isn’t worth defending anymore.

“In this town, we can’t effectively advocate for you, the American people, to ensure a secure border, safe communities, and an economy that isn’t devastated by reckless government spending,” Roy exclaimed. “And you want to know why? In the name of defense, they tell me every year that if I don’t support these inflated spending bills, we won’t get a new submarine or carrier.”

“What exactly are we trying to defend? What is left of the United States to protect? A school where I can’t send my child to pray without paying $20,000 a year on top of my taxes?” he questioned, referring to the private school he chooses for his child, despite the fact that students are permitted to pray in public schools, according to the Department of Education.

“A school where my friend’s sixth grader has a transgender music teacher asking students to participate in a dance class? Yes, that’s a true story,” he emphasized, as if it were shocking that sixth graders would be dancing in music class. “Is that what we’re defending with carriers, missiles, and endless wars?”

This isn’t the first instance in which Roy has claimed that the U.S. shouldn’t be defended due to LGBTQ+ individuals. Last year, he pointed to a Pride event at a U.S. Air Force Base in Georgia as a rationale for opposing military funding.

“What’s next, rainbow uniforms during Pride Month?” Roy questioned at the time. “The Air Force and Defense Department endorse this absurd use of taxpayer dollars and then expect members of Congress—who represent Americans outraged by this—to approve an $800 billion-plus budget for the Department of Defense (DOD). If the DOD doesn’t put an end to these divisive and frankly embarrassing events, Republicans should withdraw their support for this year’s National Defense Authorization Act.”

https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2024/09/gop-congressman-says-us-isnt-worth-defending-because-of-a-trans-music-teacher-in-9-11-speech/?utm_id=top_story&utm_term=headline&utm_content=politics&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2024912%20LGBTQ%20Nation%20Daily%20Brief&utm_content=2024912%20LGBTQ%20Nation%20Daily%20Brief+CID_8effed1877914822206ec0f2f8d37748&utm_source=LGBTQ%20Nation%20Subscribers&utm_term=GOP%20congressman%20says%20US%20isnt%20worth%20defending%20because%20of%20a%20trans%20music%20teacher%20in%20911%20speech

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Federal Bill Advancing to Require Schools to Disclose Trans Students’ Identities Passes Key Committee Vote

This blog originally appeared at LGBTQ NATION.

A House committee has advanced a controversial bill, H.R. 736, known as the “PROTECT Kids Act,” which would require schools to disclose transgender students’ identities to their parents if the students request to use different pronouns, a new name, or facilities aligned with their gender identity. The bill, introduced by Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), would enforce this policy on all elementary and middle schools that receive federal funding, threatening to withhold funds from any school that does not comply.

Rep. Walberg, who has a history of supporting Uganda’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws, stated that parents should be informed of all decisions affecting their children. He argues that the bill would “safeguard parental rights by requiring parental consent and will help mitigate under-the-radar activism in our schools.” However, critics, including Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI), chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, have condemned the bill as an attack on transgender students, warning that it could put vulnerable kids at risk, particularly those without supportive families.

The bill passed the House Committee on Education and the Workforce with a 22-12 vote and will now proceed to the House floor for consideration. While it may pass the Republican-controlled House, it faces significant opposition in the Democratic Senate, and President Joe Biden is unlikely to sign it into law, as it contradicts his administration’s policies on LGBTQ+ rights.

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