The NYIC Condemns Trump Administration’s Attack on Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Communities

October 23rd, 2018

Efforts to establish a legal definition of sex will hurt vulnerable immigrants

“The  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services memorandum detailing plans to establish a new and inaccurate federal definition of sex is a dangerous attack on New York State’s transgender  and gender non-conforming residents,” said Steven Choi, Executive Director of the New York Immigration Coalition. “This change will have grave consequences for transgender and gender non-conforming immigrants and will sanction discrimination. This memorandum is rooted in the same politics of bigotry and hate which have led the Trump administration to scapegoat immigrants through its public charge rule and anti-immigrant rhetoric. The NYIC stands with the transgender and gender nonconforming community and unequivocally supports civil rights protections based on gender identity and expression. Following this hateful announcement, the New York Immigration Coalition calls on New York State to follow the lead of New York City in protecting its residents and pass the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) immediately.”

Background

The Trump Administration has proposed dramatically and dangerously limiting the definition of gender. This proposal follows on attempts to bar transgender people from the military and challenges to the civil rights protections of the transgender community under the Affordable Care Act. The current Federal Title IX guidance, protecting transgender individuals and all Americans from gender discrimination, based on their gender identity, was the product of decades of organizing and is supported by years of case law, and by the scientific community. We strongly urge others to join us in condemning the proposed federal guidance, and supporting the existing Title IX guidance.