Report on Donald Trump's Anti-Gender-Diverse and Anti-LGBTQ Policies at the Federal and UN Level

Overview

During his tenure as President of the United States (2017-2021), Donald Trump implemented and supported various policies that were perceived as hostile towards the LGBTQ community, particularly transgender individuals. These policies affected various areas including military service, healthcare, education, and international diplomacy. This report provides an overview of these policies at the federal level and examines the stance taken by the Trump administration at the United Nations.

Federal Level Policies

1. Military Ban on Transgender Individuals

• Policy: In July 2017, Trump announced a ban on transgender individuals serving in the U.S. military via Twitter, citing medical costs and disruption. This policy reversed an Obama-era policy that allowed transgender people to serve openly.
• Implementation: The Department of Defense officially implemented the ban in April 2019, restricting transgender individuals from enlisting and requiring those already serving to do so under their biological sex unless they were grandfathered under the previous policy.
• Impact: The ban faced significant backlash and legal challenges, viewed as discriminatory by LGBTQ advocates and civil rights organizations.

2. Title IX Protections

• Policy: In February 2017, the Trump administration rescinded guidance issued by the Obama administration that allowed transgender students to use bathrooms and locker rooms corresponding with their gender identity in public schools.
• Implementation: The Department of Education and the Department of Justice withdrew the guidance, arguing that the issue should be determined by states and local school districts.
• Impact: This rollback was criticized for increasing the vulnerability of transgender students to discrimination and harassment.

3. Healthcare Regulations

• Policy: The Trump administration rolled back protections under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that prohibited discrimination based on gender identity.
• Implementation: In June 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) finalized a rule that eliminated protections against discrimination for transgender patients in healthcare settings.
• Impact: LGBTQ rights groups condemned the rule, stating it would lead to increased discrimination and barriers to healthcare access for transgender individuals.

4. Religious Freedom Protections

• Policy: Trump expanded religious exemptions for federal contractors and healthcare providers, allowing them to deny services based on religious beliefs.
• Implementation: The Department of Labor and HHS issued rules broadening the scope of religious exemptions.
• Impact: Critics argued that these rules allowed for discrimination against LGBTQ individuals under the guise of religious freedom.

United Nations Level Policies

1. Opposition to LGBTQ Rights Resolutions

• Policy: The Trump administration consistently opposed UN resolutions and statements that promoted LGBTQ rights, particularly those addressing violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
• Implementation: U.S. representatives at the UN voted against or sought to remove language supportive of LGBTQ rights in various international documents.
• Impact: This stance undermined global efforts to advance LGBTQ rights and was criticized by international human rights organizations.

2. Withdrawal from the UN Human Rights Council

• Policy: In June 2018, the Trump administration withdrew the U.S. from the UN Human Rights Council, citing the council's alleged bias against Israel and failure to protect human rights effectively.
• Implementation: The withdrawal was formalized immediately, reducing the U.S. influence on international human rights discussions, including those related to LGBTQ rights.
• Impact: LGBTQ advocates viewed this move as detrimental to the global human rights agenda, particularly for marginalized communities.

Conclusion

Donald Trump's presidency marked a period of significant policy shifts that negatively impacted the rights and protections of LGBTQ individuals, especially transgender people, at both the federal and international levels. These policies and actions were met with widespread criticism and legal challenges, highlighting the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ equality and rights in the United States and around the world.

References

1. Military Transgender Ban
2. Title IX Protections
3. Healthcare Regulations
4. Religious Freedom Protections
5. UN LGBTQ Rights
6. UN Human Rights Council Withdrawal

This report is based on publicly available information and aims to provide an accurate and comprehensive overview of the relevant policies and their impacts.

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