The Trump Administration’s Most Recent Attack on Transgender People: How You Can Help Fight Back

It can be tough to stand up and take action given the almost daily assault on decency and human rights by the Trump administration. However, each of us needs to do what we can to fight the administration's latest attack against trans and gender non-conforming people.

By now you have probably heard about Trump administration’s “memo” as reported by the New York Times. The memo, from the Department of Health and Human Services, argues that government agencies should adopt a definition of gender that is limited to either male or female and should be determined by that sex assigned at birth, based on the genitals a person is born with. It further argues that a person’s sex should be changed only if genetic testing reveals that the person’s sex is different from the sex assigned at birth.

What can you do? I have some thoughts:

If you are in a position to do so, donate to local or national organizations providing critical services and fighting the good fight for trans and non-binary folks . Click here for some suggestions.
If you are a trans person (or if you have a trans child) who needs to update the gender marker on a U.S. passport, on a U.S. Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or with the Social Security Administration, you may want to do so sooner rather than later – even if you (or your child) have not yet completed a legal change of name. Click here for more info.
If you are a trans or gender non-conforming person in distress, reach out to get help. Click here for more info.
Pay attention and make your voice heard when federal policies enter public comment periods.
VOTE on November 6!

Donate money to organizations which fight to protect LGBTQ rights and provide needed services to trans people and their families.

Some Philadelphia-area organizations to consider:

The Attic Youth Center – provides safe and affirming programs and counseling for LGBTQ kids. Click here to donate.

CHOP Gender and Sexuality Development Clinic – provides psychosocial and medical support for trans and gender non-conforming kids and their families. Donations payable to “Gender & Sexuality Development Clinic” can be mailed to Gender & Sexuality Development Clinic, 3550 Market Street, 5^th floor, Philadelphia, PA 19104.

Mazzoni Center – provides comprehensive clinical care for trans people and the Pediatric & Adolescent Comprehensive Transgender Services program (PACTS) for trans kids and their families. Click here to donate and put “trans health care” or “PACTS” in the “order comments” field.

Mazzoni Center’s legal services department provides much-needed legal services to LGBTQ clients, including name changes and assistance with changing IDs. Click here to donate and put “trans legal services” in the “order comments” field.

Women’s Law Project – Don’t let the name fool you - click here to read about their work on transgender rights in Pennsylvania. Click here to donate.

Some national organizations to consider:

ACLU – Click here to read about the ACLU’s work on LGBTQ rights. Click here to donate.

GLAD – Click here to read about GLAD's work on trans rights. Click here to donate.

Lambda Legal – Click here to read about Lambda’s work on trans rights. Click here to donate.

National Center for Lesbian Rights – Again, don’t be fooled by the name. Click here to read about NCLR’s litigation, advocacy, and education in the fight for trans rights. Click here to donate.

National Center for Transgender Equality – Advocates in D.C. and across the country for trans rights. Click here to donate.

Transgender Law Center – Fights for trans rights through litigation and advocacy. Click here to donate.

Hotlines: If you are trans or gender non-conforming and in distress, please reach out to get help:

The Trevor Project – hotline available 24/7 at 866-4-U-TREVOR (866-488-7386). Also available via instant messaging at TrevorChat, or via text at TrevorText (text START to 678678).

Trans Lifeline – peer-support crisis hotline available from 10 a.m. to 4 a.m. EST at 877-565-8860.