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Dear John,
The United States has a new President, and in the last 24 hours, I have spoken with friends and colleagues from over a dozen countries about what this leadership change means for them. On his first day back in office, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order that deals a devastating blow to the rights of transgender, nonbinary, and intersex people. This harmful policy rolls back years of progress, undermining the dignity, safety, and equality of LGBTIQ communities globally.
The order, titled "Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government," declares that there are only two sexes—male and female, determined at conception—a claim that ignores both science and lived experience. This exclusionary policy erases the existence of intersex individuals, strips critical anti-discrimination protections from trans people, disregards gender diversity, and enforces a narrow definition of sex on government documentation, including passports.
For millennia, cultures worldwide—including many Indigenous American communities—have recognized people outside the binary. No presidential order can erase these identities, but it can make their lives more precarious and fuel discrimination against anyone who defies gender norms.
This order’s global ripple effects are deeply concerning, threatening human rights defenders and emboldening anti-LGBTIQ policies worldwide. At Outright International, we remain resolute in protecting human rights and equality everywhere.
We are monitoring this closely and urge you to stand with us. Read our full statement to learn how you can take action:
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