I’m a 55-year-old transgender woman, an Air Force veteran, and an advocate for our community. For over three decades, I’ve witnessed the transgender community grow stronger and more visible. Now, in 2025—on the heels of newly issued anti-transgender executive orders by Donald Trump on the first day of his second administration—our community is being tested in unprecedented ways. But with great challenges come new opportunities for unity. My hope is that these words will encourage, enlighten, and empower everyone in the transgender community, as well as our families, friends, and allies. We stand at a crossroads: fear can either fragment us, or it can draw us closer together. Let’s choose togetherness.
Understanding the Current Landscape
On January 20, 2025, Donald Trump took office for his second term and wasted no time issuing executive orders that specifically target and undermine the rights of transgender individuals in the United States. These orders—ranging from attempts to prohibit transgender people from accessing certain health care services to rolling back protections in employment and public accommodations—represent a deliberate, high-level attack on the transgender community. Coupled with an emboldened wave of right-leaning media voices, social media influencers, and policy-makers who parrot harmful myths, we now find ourselves under a microscope of hostility.
Many of us feel a visceral sense of déjà vu; memories of prior attempts to restrict our rights during Trump’s first administration have resurfaced. But this time around, there’s an added intensity. Spurred on by lessons learned from the past, Trump’s strategy has become more pronounced and more calculated—stoking fear to rally a base that thrives on anti-trans rhetoric. It is no coincidence these anti-trans orders were the first on the docket. Trump’s tactic is clear: by targeting a relatively small population, he believes the pushback will be less formidable.
What he doesn’t fully grasp is the resolve of our community and the scope of our allies. Over the past several years, more organizations, politicians, medical professionals, and everyday Americans have stepped forward to declare unequivocal support for transgender rights. Yes, these orders are sowing uncertainty and fear, and many of us feel vulnerable in ways we haven’t in years. But adversity has a peculiar way of galvanizing people. And in this moment of widespread fear, we have a golden opportunity: to strengthen our ranks, reaffirm our identities, and create an unbreakable network of support.
Fear as a Catalyst for Unity
Fear is a natural response to threats. However, when harnessed effectively, fear can be channeled into powerful collective action. Many communities throughout history, when faced with oppression, managed to transform anxiety into activism. The civil rights movements of the 1960s, the gay rights movement spurred by Stonewall, and the marriage equality fight of the early 2000s each contained this element of “fear-turned-fuel.” These historical examples demonstrate that a community that supports one another—emotionally, psychologically, and practically—can elevate itself even under the darkest clouds of oppression.
For the transgender community, fear has historically driven too many of us into the shadows. We’ve avoided stepping forward in public spaces, or revealing our true selves, to avoid backlash. Family rejections, job discrimination, and public ridicule have forced many into a silent struggle, where mental health burdens mount and personal safety is at risk. But if there is a silver lining to these newly signed executive orders, it’s that our community is more organized than ever before.
- Visibility and Representation: The last decade has seen more trans people in media, politics, and professional fields. This representation, while not a cure-all, has significantly increased public awareness about our lives, experiences, and contributions.
- Interconnected Communities: Thanks to social media and networking platforms, an unprecedented number of trans individuals can build supportive online families. The internet’s global reach also extends our capacity to learn from and collaborate with allies and organizations worldwide.
- Legal and Legislative Know-How: Over the past few decades, attorneys, policy experts, and activists have racked up victories in federal courts, state legislatures, and the court of public opinion. This has created a robust foundation of legal arguments and strategies that can be deployed again.
Viewed through this lens, fear isn’t a signal to retreat—it’s a motivator to unify. We can stand shoulder-to-shoulder, reminding ourselves and our allies that our rights are indivisible and that an attack on one of us is an attack on the entire community. That sense of unity is crucial. It provides emotional and moral support when times are grim, and it raises our collective power in the courts, in the streets, and in legislative battles.
The Role of Allies and Advocates
In times like these, we must lean on the broader network of support that has consistently championed transgender rights. This includes:
- Attorneys and Legal Advocates: Already, nonprofits and civil rights law firms are mobilizing to file injunctions against new executive orders. Lawsuits, while time-consuming, can slow the implementation of destructive policies. The mere act of filing suit can sometimes pressure the administration to reconsider extreme measures. Legal challenges are also a signal to the community that we are not powerless; we have recourse within the system.
- Legislative Allies: Progressive lawmakers—at both state and federal levels—are fighting back with policy proposals to protect transgender people in healthcare, employment, education, and housing. They rely on data, personal testimonies, and a growing consensus within mainstream medical associations that affirm trans identities. These legislative allies need our stories and support. By testifying before committees or writing personal letters describing how these new orders harm our livelihoods, we put a human face on the policy debate.
- Medical and Mental Health Professionals: Doctors, psychologists, and nurses are critical in countering misinformation about transgender health. Over the last decade, substantial research has reinforced that gender-affirming care is a lifesaver for many transgender individuals. Bringing these professionals into the public conversation helps refute harmful claims. It also ensures that, within the medical community, harmful “bans” and restrictions will be met with consistent, fact-based resistance.
- Families and Friends: Parents of transgender children, spouses, siblings, and close friends are often the strongest, most passionate advocates. This is personal for them. They see the harm that bigoted policies inflict on their loved ones. Engaging and educating allies—offering them the chance to speak out as advocates—amplifies our collective voice exponentially.
- Corporate Allies: While corporate support can sometimes seem driven by public relations, many large companies genuinely embrace LGBTQ+ policies. They have the power to shape public opinion, provide inclusive healthcare benefits, and create safe workplaces that set an example for others. In addition, they can pressure politicians through lobbying efforts. Cultivating corporate allies and encouraging them to stand up publicly in support of their transgender employees is another potent weapon in our fight.
In short, we are not alone. The network that stands behind us is broad, varied, and deeply committed. As new executive orders aim to chip away at our rights, each ally becomes a node in a massive web of resistance.
Countering Misinformation
One of the most toxic weapons in this political onslaught is misinformation. Right-leaning news organizations, social media influencers, and even members of Trump’s administration propagate falsehoods about transgender people. These range from absurd claims about “grooming” to the perpetual misconception that transitioning is a reckless, uninformed choice harming children. Our collective responsibility is to counter these narratives with calm, factual clarity.
- Data-Driven Rebuttals: Research shows that gender-affirming care is medically necessary for many transgender individuals. There are comprehensive studies in respected, peer-reviewed journals showing that access to transitioning—whether through hormones, surgery, or social transition—improves mental health outcomes and reduces suicidal ideation. Citing these studies in articles, social media posts, and public forums helps dispel the notion that gender-affirming healthcare is merely a “political statement.”
- Personal Stories: Facts alone aren’t enough to win hearts. Sharing authentic personal stories can dismantle harmful stereotypes. When a parent shares how their child blossomed after coming out as trans, or when a trans adult describes the peace and self-actualization that came with living authentically, it puts a human face on otherwise abstract policy discussions.
- Media Literacy: Encourage each other to verify news sources and to question sensationalist headlines. Misinformation thrives when people share inflammatory content uncritically. By fostering a culture of questioning and verifying, we can limit the viral spread of false narratives.
- Empathetic Engagement: Not everyone who repeats misinformation does so with malice. Some are simply uninformed. Having empathetic conversations can be more persuasive than confrontational debates. When feasible, we should aim to educate rather than alienate. That said, we must also recognize when someone is acting in bad faith, and it is okay to remove ourselves from harmful, unproductive exchanges.
By systematically confronting falsehoods, we deny these new executive orders the supportive public opinion they seek. If large segments of the population learn the truth—and the reality that trans people want nothing more than to live safely and authentically—the impetus behind such legislation weakens.
Providing Support to the Vulnerable
While some in our community are well-prepared—emotionally and logistically—to fight back, many of us are deeply frightened. These may be individuals who have only recently begun their transition or are not yet “out” in every sphere of life. They could be trans youth who can’t rely on family support. Or they might be older trans folks who lived through decades of discrimination and now fear they simply do not have the strength for another intense battle.
We need to be mindful of those who feel overwhelmed, ensuring that no one falls through the cracks:
- Mental Health Resources: The heightened anxiety surrounding these executive orders can trigger depression, PTSD, or suicidal ideation. Crisis hotlines, community centers, and online support groups must be widely publicized. For those with the means, we can donate to organizations offering free or low-cost therapy to trans individuals in crisis.
- Physical Safety and Shelter: Some may face immediate threats in living situations. Domestic conflicts can escalate if families or roommates become hostile due to misinformation. Shelters, safe houses, and volunteer networks that can provide temporary housing must be accessible to those in need.
- Legal Guidance: Many people fear losing health care coverage or facing discrimination in employment. Pro bono legal clinics and community-led workshops can help individuals know their rights and find counsel. Providing step-by-step guides on how to respond to workplace discrimination, denial of services, or invasive documentation requirements can empower people to stand up for themselves.
- Community Solidarity Events: Organizing gatherings—rallies, peaceful protests, town halls—creates unity and a tangible sense of solidarity. Even if events are virtual, such as live-streamed forums, they foster a climate where people can share experiences, ask questions, and express fears. It’s a reminder to everyone that we’re not going through this alone.
- Spiritual and Emotional Support: For many, faith communities can be a source of resilience. Trans-affirming congregations of various religions exist and can be lifelines for those craving spiritual solace. Likewise, peer support and mentorship—matchmaking those who have navigated similar challenges—can lighten emotional burdens.
Extending these hands of support fortifies our communal bonds. If each of us contributes in whatever way we can—be it financially, emotionally, legally, or organizationally—we assemble a fortress of care that safeguards the most vulnerable among us.
Stepping Up: Personal Narratives of Strength
I want to pause and share a piece of my own journey. When I was in the Air Force, I quickly realized that expressing any sense of gender variance would almost certainly end my military career. Fear was a daily companion. But, over time, I discovered there were people—colleagues, friends, fellow service members—who suspected there was more to my story. They didn’t judge. Some even signaled quiet acceptance. Their subtle acts of compassion—offering emotional support when they barely understood the details themselves—became a lifeline.
When I finally found the courage to start my medical transition, I lost some friends, but I gained far more. Our community held me up, taught me the power of authenticity, and encouraged me to use my voice. That’s a large part of why I advocate so fiercely now. Fear once kept me silent, but connecting with like-minded souls helped me transform that fear into determination.
In recent weeks, I’ve observed an outpouring of solidarity reminiscent of that support I experienced when I first started transitioning—yet on a scale I never could have imagined just two years ago. I see trans men and women, non-binary siblings, genderfluid teens, and older trans folks locking arms and speaking out. Individuals who previously felt it was “safer to hide” are attending meetings, posting support messages on social media, and contacting their representatives. This wave of newly vocal advocates makes me proud to be transgender. We are continuing a long tradition of resilience, from the Stonewall generation to the many unsung heroes who fought for trans visibility in every corner of this country.
Educating the Broader Public
One of the biggest hurdles in this fight is educating the millions of Americans who, until now, have paid little attention to transgender issues. For many, the mere existence of trans people wasn’t on their radar—some believed that it was simply a “phase” or “internet trend.” Now, faced with sensational headlines, these same individuals might swing to either side of the conversation without truly understanding the issues at play.
Strategies for Public Education
- Local Outreach: Neighborhood associations, schools, libraries, and community centers often welcome educational forums. Organize or volunteer at events that explain transgender identities, highlight the science of transition, and dispel myths.
- Storytelling Campaigns: Host or contribute to documentary screenings, blog series, podcasts, or YouTube channels where real people share their journeys. Authenticity resonates. The more stories out there, the harder it is for bigotry to reduce us to stereotypes.
- Push for Inclusive Curriculum: Urge local school boards to integrate LGBTQ+ history into social studies classes. When young people learn early on that trans folks have always existed and contributed to society, it fosters empathy and dismantles prejudice before it takes root.
- Town Halls and Debates: Engage directly with local politicians, especially moderates who may be on the fence. By conducting open dialogues where facts, data, and lived experiences are shared, we can shift perspectives. Changing a lawmaker’s stance, even slightly, can have a ripple effect across policy initiatives.
- Social Media Advocacy: For better or worse, platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Twitter (now often called “X”), and Facebook are powerful tools for sharing information. A well-crafted post or a viral video can reach thousands in a matter of hours. Always link to credible sources and try to maintain a respectful tone—even in the face of trolls. This approach demonstrates that our community is thoughtful, informed, and resilient.
Each of these actions chips away at the ignorance fueling transphobia. Education isn’t a quick fix, but it’s among the most potent long-term strategies for creating a truly inclusive society. As public opinion shifts in our favor, politicians inclined to attack trans rights will find themselves increasingly isolated.
Building a Resilient Community Framework
Converting fear into actionable unity requires structure. Grassroots organizations, community centers, online groups, and national nonprofits are all part of this ecosystem. Coordination among these entities determines how effectively we can respond to legal threats, misinformed rhetoric, and executive mandates.
- Centralized Information Hubs: During crises, conflicting or outdated information can confuse and demoralize. Establishing central resources—such as websites, email lists, or social media channels—that offer up-to-date, verified information on executive orders, legislative actions, and pending lawsuits is vital.
- Coalition Building: Reach out to allied groups beyond the LGBTQ+ sphere. Civil liberties organizations, religious congregations championing social justice, women’s rights groups, and immigrant rights coalitions often have overlapping missions. Standing in solidarity with other marginalized communities broadens our base of support.
- Training and Workshops: Encourage local trans community centers to host skill-building sessions on advocacy, leadership, and media engagement. Identify new leaders within our ranks, especially young people who bring fresh perspectives and social media savvy. Mentorship from older advocates can balance that youthful passion with practical wisdom about navigating systemic challenges.
- Fundraising and Resource Allocation: Legal battles, lobbying efforts, and public education campaigns cost money. By organizing donation drives—both within the trans community and among allies—we can fund the crucial work of nonprofits that are on the legal and legislative front lines. Equitable resource allocation ensures smaller, local organizations (often the most accessible for many trans folks) can sustain their vital programs.
Through careful infrastructure-building, our community can respond swiftly to new threats and pivot strategically, rather than scrambling in a disorganized fashion each time another harmful policy emerges.
The Power of Empathy and Love
Amid the tumult of legal battles, legislative wrangling, and relentless news cycles, it’s easy to lose sight of why we’re fighting in the first place: we are individuals who deserve respect, dignity, and love. The engine driving our resilience isn’t rage, though anger can be justified. It’s love and empathy—especially for those who aren’t yet ready to speak up.
Some in our community fear retaliation from employers, estranged family members, or unsupportive neighbors. They may worry about their physical safety if they speak out publicly. Our role is to meet them where they are, with compassion and understanding, and to let them know there is a safe place to land whenever they need it. We can:
- Offer Support: Reach out privately, affirm their experiences, and ensure they have resources if they need legal or mental health assistance.
- Validate Their Emotions: Not everyone processes fear the same way. Some respond with activism, others with silence. There’s no one “correct” way to cope.
- Encourage Self-Care: Remind them (and ourselves) that activism doesn’t require constant engagement. Periodic mental breaks, therapy, journaling, or even joyful distractions like art and sports can prevent burnout.
When our community sees tangible examples of mutual care, it reinforces our collective bond. Fighting these battles isn’t just about policy; it’s about ensuring that each person knows their life matters.
Charting a Vision for the Future
The immediate goal is to stop or at least slow the implementation of these harmful executive orders and any subsequent legislation that amplifies them. We achieve that through legal action, legislative advocacy, and public education. But what about the bigger picture? How do we envision a post-Trump America that fully includes and respects transgender people?
- Long-Term Policy Initiatives: We can push for comprehensive federal protections—like an updated Equality Act—that explicitly safeguard transgender individuals in housing, employment, public accommodations, and healthcare. Solidifying these rights at the federal level would limit the power of any future administration to strip them away.
- Cultural Acceptance: Laws are crucial, but societal acceptance is equally important. Continued emphasis on trans inclusion in media, entertainment, and education will gradually normalize our presence, reducing stigma and fear.
- Intergenerational Mentorship: As younger generations of trans and non-binary individuals step into leadership roles, older advocates like myself can offer historical perspective and lessons learned. Conversely, younger activists bring tech-savvy organizing and fresh ideas. Building these intergenerational bridges ensures a sustained continuum of activism and community care.
- Global Perspective: The fight for trans rights isn’t limited to the United States. Oppressive policies in one country can embolden governments elsewhere. Likewise, progress in one region can inspire positive change abroad. Staying connected with international LGBTQ+ organizations broadens our perspective, enabling us to share resources and strategies across borders.
Our long-term vision must move beyond mere survival. We aim for a world where living authentically as a transgender person isn’t an act of courage, but a mundane fact of life—no more remarkable than someone’s height or hair color. We dream of a future where trans children grow up with supportive families, inclusive schools, and robust health care, never having to question if they’ll be discriminated against or targeted.
The Bottom Line
The fear being sown by Donald Trump’s renewed attacks on the transgender community is potent—there’s no denying that. But throughout history, marginalized groups have proven that fear can be a catalyst for remarkable unity and unprecedented progress. We—the transgender community—stand on the shoulders of elders who endured violence, discrimination, and social exile. Their resilience birthed an infrastructure of support, community centers, legal defense funds, and a growing chorus of allies that we can depend on today.
Yes, the present feels uncertain. Yes, the barrage of misinformation and hostility can be overwhelming. And yes, some of our trans siblings are scared, unprepared, and even closeted. But let’s acknowledge our own power in this moment. We are more visible, more organized, and more resolved than ever before. The strategies are clear:
- Support and protect each other—especially those most vulnerable.
- Utilize legal channels to challenge discriminatory orders.
- Engage with legislative allies to draft and pass protections.
- Counter misinformation with facts and personal stories.
- Educate the wider public about who we are and what we stand for.
- Build a robust, empathetic community network.
When we take these steps in unison, our collective voice becomes unstoppable. Trump’s fear tactics rely on the notion that we’re too small or too fragmented to fight back effectively. Let’s prove that wrong—together. Let’s show the world that we are not victims, but victors in the making. And when future generations of trans and non-binary children look back on this chapter in history, let them see a story of courage, love, and unity that ultimately triumphed over hate.
We must keep marching forward—each of us carrying within our hearts the resolve that our identities are valid and our lives are beautiful. Remember: no matter how loud the voices of hate may get, our love for one another and for ourselves resonates louder still. Our community, forged by shared experiences and bound by empathy, cannot be easily shattered. We are here, we are powerful, and we will not be erased.
From one proud transgender woman to every trans person, family member, friend, and ally reading this: remain steadfast. In the face of fear, let’s stand together. Let’s transform dread into determination, confusion into clarity, and oppression into an impetus for greater unity. Our future—one defined by equality and unyielding affirmation of who we are—depends on it.
