Trump changes sex definition and tears up diversity plans in huge blow for LGBTQ+

The convicted felon and US President will sign an executive order declaring that the federal government would recognise only two genders: male and female

Donald Trump will strip trans people of their legal protections in one of his first acts after returning to office.

The convicted felon and US President will sign an executive order declaring that the federal government would recognise only two genders: male and female, an incoming White House official said Monday.

And he’ll sign a second order terminating diversity, equality and inclusion programs within the federal government in what he described in his inauguration speech as a move to end efforts to “socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life.”

In the speech, he added: “As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female.

The order undoes parts of one Joe Biden signed on his first day in office four years ago.

Trump’s order could restrict access to gender-affirming medical care and sports competitions for some transgender people.

The official said only two sexes will be recognised on passports and visas.

Under changes introduced under President Biden, passport holders could choose to have “X” under their gender on their passport.

The move is not a surprise. Trump criticised transgender and nonbinary rights in his campaign, airing one ad more than 15,000 times that proclaimed, “Kamala is for them/them. President Trump is for you.”

Civil rights groups were preparing to challenge Trump’s restrictions in court before he took office.

“We are going to persevere, we’re going to continue in our work and we’re going to continue to protect trans rights throughout the country,” said Ash Orr, a spokesperson for Advocates for Trans Equality last week, anticipating such an order.