President Donald Trump has signed a controversial executive order that restricts federal recognition of gender to biological sex, declaring that the United States will only recognize two sexes—male and female.
According to the Executive Order, these sexes are immutable.
This move has been met with widespread backlash from LGBTQ+ advocates, who see it as a direct attack on transgender rights.
Transgender Inmates Reassigned to Men’s Facilities
According to a report by The New York Times, the executive order mandates that federal prisons transfer transgender women to men’s facilities and immediately halt any medical treatments related to gender transition for incarcerated individuals.
The policy effectively ends discretionary placements based on gender identity, a practice that had been implemented to address safety concerns and promote dignity for transgender inmates.
Advocates Sound the Alarm
The decision has sparked outrage from legal and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, who warn of dire consequences for transgender inmates.
Shannon Minter, legal director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, criticized the move:
“There will be rapes and physical assaults because of this policy. It’s also terrible for prison officials, who right now have the authority to use discretion about what makes the most sense for the safety and security of the facility.”
Concerns Over Safety and Health
Transgender women housed in men’s prisons are at heightened risk of sexual violence and physical harm.
A 2015 report by the National Center for Transgender Equality found that transgender prisoners are nearly ten times more likely to be sexually assaulted than other inmates.
In addition to safety concerns, halting medical treatments related to gender transition raises significant ethical and legal questions.
Denying such treatments, which are widely recognized by medical organizations as necessary for the health and well-being of transgender individuals, could lead to increased mental health crises and suicide rates among incarcerated individuals.
Policy Fallout
Critics argue that the executive order not only undermines the rights and safety of transgender individuals but also places additional strain on prison officials, who previously had the discretion to house inmates in a manner that ensured security for all parties.
The executive order is the latest in a series of actions by the Trump administration that have targeted the LGBTQ+ community, including the ban on transgender individuals serving in the military and the rollback of anti-discrimination protections in healthcare.
