{"id":1038,"date":"2026-01-06T15:23:17","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T15:23:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/?p=1038"},"modified":"2026-01-11T01:51:40","modified_gmt":"2026-01-11T06:51:40","slug":"trans-impact","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/06\/trans-impact\/","title":{"rendered":"Trans community feels sting of Trump orders"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Eli\u00adjah Polance 
UConn Jour\u00adnal\u00adism<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

 In the year since Pres\u00adi\u00addent Don\u00adald Trump took office, he has signed five exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders direct\u00aded toward the trans\u00adgen\u00adder com\u00admu\u00adni\u00adty.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Framed as pro\u00adtec\u00adtions for women and chil\u00addren, the orders tar\u00adget recog\u00adni\u00adtion and inclu\u00adsion of trans\u00adgen\u00adder indi\u00advid\u00adu\u00adals in fed\u00ader\u00adal\u00adly fund\u00aded pro\u00adgrams and schools. The first order said the fed\u00ader\u00adal gov\u00adern\u00adment will only rec\u00adog\u00adnize \u201cmale\u201d and \u201cfemale\u201d as accept\u00adable gen\u00adders, based on one\u2019s sex assigned at birth \u2013 affect\u00ading a vari\u00adety of things from prison and immi\u00adgra\u00adtion deten\u00adtion to U.S. pass\u00adports. A pair of orders tar\u00adget\u00aded what the Trump admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion called \u201cgen\u00adder ide\u00adol\u00ado\u00adgy\u201d in pub\u00adlic schools and oth\u00ader orga\u00adni\u00adza\u00adtions. Anoth\u00ader threat\u00adened to with\u00adhold fund\u00ading from med\u00adical providers who offer gen\u00adder-affirm\u00ading care for trans\u00adgen\u00adder youth.  Two oth\u00ader orders pro\u00adhib\u00adit\u00aded trans\u00adgen\u00adder peo\u00adple from serv\u00ading in the mil\u00adi\u00adtary and trans\u00adgen\u00adder women from com\u00adpet\u00ading in women\u2019s sports. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dan Bar\u00adrett, legal direc\u00adtor of the Amer\u00adi\u00adcan Civ\u00adil Lib\u00ader\u00adties Union of Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut, described the Trump administration\u2019s actions as an attempt to erase trans\u00adgen\u00adder peo\u00adple. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs a mat\u00adter of law, the nation\u00adal gov\u00adern\u00adment right now seems to want to make it so that there\u2019s no such thing as being trans\u00adgen\u00adder, and that is play\u00ading out in a vari\u00adety of ways,\u201d Bar\u00adrett said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Along with the exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders specif\u00adi\u00adcal\u00adly direct\u00aded at the trans\u00adgen\u00adder com\u00admu\u00adni\u00adty, oth\u00ader orders repeal diver\u00adsi\u00adty, equi\u00adty and inclu\u00adsion ini\u00adtia\u00adtives and anti-dis\u00adcrim\u00adi\u00adna\u00adtion pro\u00adtec\u00adtions for LGBTQ+ indi\u00advid\u00adu\u00adals.  Many of Trump\u2019s orders are fac\u00ading law\u00adsuits from states and advo\u00adca\u00adcy groups, and some have been blocked by fed\u00ader\u00adal courts. Still, trans\u00adgen\u00adder peo\u00adple and allies in Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut say the orders have made the lives of trans\u00adgen\u00adder peo\u00adple more dif\u00adfi\u00adcult and makes it feel as if their own gov\u00adern\u00adment is against their exis\u00adtence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Excluding transgender people from the military<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The government\u2019s polic\u00ading of LGBTQ+ indi\u00advid\u00adu\u00adals is not new. Mic\u00adki McElya, a his\u00adto\u00adry pro\u00adfes\u00adsor at the Uni\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adty of Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut, said that stricter fed\u00ader\u00adal reg\u00adu\u00adla\u00adtion bar\u00adring LGBTQ+ peo\u00adple from the mil\u00adi\u00adtary has coin\u00adcid\u00aded with the increas\u00ading recog\u00adni\u00adtion of LGBTQ+ iden\u00adti\u00adties. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dur\u00ading World War I, the U.S. Navy inves\u00adti\u00adgat\u00aded and purged sailors hav\u00ading gay sex, she said. By World War II, homo\u00adsex\u00adu\u00adal\u00adi\u00adty was con\u00adsid\u00adered a men\u00adtal ill\u00adness that could bar cit\u00adi\u00adzens from serv\u00ading in the mil\u00adi\u00adtary. This coin\u00adcid\u00aded with the \u201cLaven\u00adder Scare,\u201d a peri\u00adod from the late 1940s to 1960s when fed\u00ader\u00adal employ\u00adees out\u00aded as gay were fired from the fed\u00ader\u00adal gov\u00adern\u00adment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the offi\u00adci\u00adat\u00aded dis\u00adcrim\u00adi\u00adna\u00adtion end\u00aded in the fed\u00ader\u00adal gov\u00adern\u00adment in 1975, it con\u00adtin\u00adued in the mil\u00adi\u00adtary. Con\u00adtin\u00adued scruti\u00adny from activists, led to the \u201cDon\u2019t Ask, Don\u2019t Tell\u201d pol\u00adi\u00adcy in the 1990s under Pres\u00adi\u00addent Bill Clin\u00adton. The pol\u00adi\u00adcy pro\u00adhib\u00adit\u00aded open\u00adly gay, les\u00adbian and bisex\u00adu\u00adal peo\u00adple from serv\u00ading in the mil\u00adi\u00adtary. How\u00adev\u00ader, if mil\u00adi\u00adtary per\u00adson\u00adnel did not dis\u00adclose this infor\u00adma\u00adtion, they could con\u00adtin\u00adue to serve. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

McElya described this as an oppres\u00adsive frame\u00adwork that barred rep\u00adre\u00adsen\u00adta\u00adtion of LGBTQ+ iden\u00adti\u00adties. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a sug\u00adges\u00adtion that were one not to be vis\u00adi\u00adble, were one to stay in hid\u00ading, they could con\u00adtin\u00adue to serve in the mil\u00adi\u00adtary,\u201d McElya said. \u201cThis is some\u00adthing that activists across time, both in and out\u00adside of the mil\u00adi\u00adtary, have real\u00adly called the con\u00adtra\u00addic\u00adtion. If you don\u2019t know I\u2019m queer and I\u2019m a good sol\u00addier, or I\u2019m a good sailor, that does\u00adn\u2019t change when you know my iden\u00adti\u00adty, right?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pres\u00adi\u00addent Barack Oba\u00adma repealed \u201cDon\u2019t Ask, Don\u2019t Tell\u201d in 2011, and start\u00ading in 2016, trans\u00adgen\u00adder peo\u00adple were allowed in the mil\u00adi\u00adtary.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Protest advo\u00adcat\u00ading against Trump\u2019s trans\u00adgen\u00adder mil\u00adi\u00adtary ban in 2017. Pho\u00adto by Ted Eytan from Wiki\u00adme\u00addia Com\u00admons<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After Trump took office the next year for his first term, he tried to pro\u00adhib\u00adit this with an exec\u00adu\u00adtive order. Fed\u00ader\u00adal courts blocked it, forc\u00ading the admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion to enact a more spe\u00adcif\u00adic pol\u00adi\u00adcy that still allowed some trans\u00adgen\u00adder peo\u00adple to serve.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sev\u00aden days after tak\u00ading office for his sec\u00adond term, Trump signed the exec\u00adu\u00adtive order \u201cPri\u00ador\u00adi\u00adtiz\u00ading Mil\u00adi\u00adtary Excel\u00adlence and Readi\u00adness,\u201d<\/a> again ban\u00adning all trans\u00adgen\u00adder peo\u00adple from serv\u00ading in the mil\u00adi\u00adtary. While the order was ini\u00adtial\u00adly blocked by an injunc\u00adtion from a fed\u00ader\u00adal dis\u00adtrict court, the U.S. Supreme Court in ear\u00adly May allowed the ban to go into effect as legal chal\u00adlenges against it advanced through the courts, accord\u00ading to the Asso\u00adci\u00adat\u00aded Press<\/a>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re see\u00ading what we saw his\u00adtor\u00adi\u00adcal\u00adly again, right now with trans\u00adgen\u00adder ser\u00advice per\u00adson\u00adnel,\u201d McElya said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exec\u00adu\u00adtive order said that being trans\u00adgen\u00adder goes against the lifestyle required of a ser\u00advice mem\u00adber. Part of the order said: \u201cA man\u2019s asser\u00adtion that he is a woman, and his require\u00adment that oth\u00aders hon\u00ador this false\u00adhood, is not con\u00adsis\u00adtent with the humil\u00adi\u00adty and self\u00adless\u00adness required of a ser\u00advice mem\u00adber.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In mid-Novem\u00adber 2025, 17 trans\u00adgen\u00adder vet\u00ader\u00adans of the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force, all of whom had served for at least 15 years and were forced to stop serv\u00ading because of Trump\u2019s exec\u00adu\u00adtive order, sued the mil\u00adi\u00adtary<\/a> for deny\u00ading them promised retire\u00adment ben\u00ade\u00adfits. Accord\u00ading to the legal com\u00adplaint<\/a>, each mem\u00adber applied and got approved for Tem\u00adpo\u00adrary Ear\u00adly Retire\u00adment Author\u00adi\u00adty, but in August 2025, the U.S. Air Force rescind\u00aded their ben\u00ade\u00adfits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt feels like a betray\u00adal,\u201d Mas\u00adter Sgt. Logan Ire\u00adland, one of the impact\u00aded vet\u00ader\u00adans, said in an inter\u00adview with NBC news.<\/a> \u201cI\u2019m just anoth\u00ader ser\u00advice mem\u00adber serv\u00ading his coun\u00adtry, and for me, I want my lead\u00ader\u00adship to see that, to see my ser\u00advice as hon\u00ador\u00adable.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Restricting passport genders and self-identification<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Trump admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion has also tar\u00adget\u00aded trans\u00adgen\u00adder cit\u00adi\u00adzens more broad\u00adly in ways that com\u00adpli\u00adcate self-iden\u00adti\u00adfi\u00adca\u00adtion and trav\u00adel. One of the first exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders Trump signed man\u00addat\u00aded that pass\u00adports, visas and glob\u00adal entry cards would reflect the gen\u00adder of one\u2019s assigned sex at birth and only rec\u00adog\u00adnize peo\u00adple as \u201cmale\u201d or \u201cfemale.\u201d An ACLU law\u00adsuit in a fed\u00ader\u00adal court in Mass\u00ada\u00adchu\u00adsetts led to a tem\u00adpo\u00adrary injunc\u00adtion on the order in June 2025. But in Novem\u00adber, the Supreme Court allowed the pass\u00adport restric\u00adtion to go into effect as the law\u00adsuit con\u00adtin\u00adues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These new reg\u00adu\u00adla\u00adtions may be incon\u00adgru\u00adous with state poli\u00adcies about iden\u00adti\u00adfi\u00adca\u00adtion doc\u00adu\u00adments. In Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut, res\u00adi\u00addents are allowed to change their gen\u00adder mark\u00aders on state iden\u00adti\u00adfi\u00adca\u00adtion doc\u00adu\u00adments, includ\u00ading dri\u00advers licens\u00ades and birth cer\u00adtifi\u00adcates. Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut also allows \u201cX\u201d as a gen\u00adder mark\u00ader for those who do not iden\u00adti\u00adfy as male or female. Bar\u00adrett of the ACLU said this could set up a con\u00adfus\u00ading con\u00adflict between state and fed\u00ader\u00adal records.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor pur\u00adpos\u00ades of your Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut driver\u2019s license, you\u2019re a man, you\u2019re a male gen\u00adder, but for pur\u00adpos\u00ades of a pass\u00adport, the nation\u00adal gov\u00adern\u00adment con\u00adsid\u00aders you to be a woman,\u201d Bar\u00adrett said. \u201cSo you may have this com\u00adplete divorce of how the two gov\u00adern\u00adments view you.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Agatha Larch (left) and Rae Hors\u00ades\u00adtre\u00adingth (right), a trans\u00adgen\u00adder cou\u00adple who have had dif\u00adfi\u00adcul\u00adty with fed\u00ader\u00adal iden\u00adti\u00adfi\u00adca\u00adtion doc\u00adu\u00adments after Trump\u2019s re-elec\u00adtion. Pho\u00adto cour\u00adtesy of Agatha Larch and Rae Hors\u00ades\u00adtre\u00adingth<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Rae Hors\u00ades\u00adtre\u00adingth and Agatha Larch, a cou\u00adple from Litch\u00adfield Coun\u00adty who are both trans\u00adgen\u00adder, said they imme\u00addi\u00adate\u00adly took steps to change their names and gen\u00adder mark\u00aders on their pass\u00adports upon Trump\u2019s re-elec\u00adtion in Novem\u00adber 2024. Their pass\u00adports did not get processed, though, until after Trump\u2019s inau\u00adgu\u00adra\u00adtion and the exec\u00adu\u00adtive order, so their gen\u00adder mark\u00aders did not get changed in time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the exec\u00adu\u00adtive order was put on hold by the courts in June 2025, Hors\u00ades\u00adtre\u00adingth was able to get the gen\u00adder mark\u00ader on his pass\u00adport changed to male. But Larch, who was also apply\u00ading for dual cit\u00adi\u00adzen\u00adship with the Unit\u00aded King\u00addom, had a more involved process and longer wait times. A trans\u00adgen\u00adder woman, she was unable to change her gen\u00adder mark\u00ader on her pass\u00adport to female before the new rules went into effect. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTry\u00ading to have my license and my U.S. pass\u00adport and my U.S. birth cer\u00adtifi\u00adcate match the doc\u00adu\u00adments that I\u2019m try\u00ading to work out with my Eng\u00adlish stuff is weird,\u201d Larch said. \u201cI have no idea how that\u2019s going to work because both of these coun\u00adtries have total\u00adly dif\u00adfer\u00adent approach\u00ades to peo\u00adple like me. The rules are dif\u00adfer\u00adent on each side, but they\u2019re kind of sup\u00adposed to match. And the prob\u00adlems that can arise\u2026 I don\u2019t even know what I\u2019m going to run into, which is weird. That doesn\u2019t feel like how that should be.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pre\u00advent\u00ading pre\u00adferred self-iden\u00adti\u00adfi\u00adca\u00adtion on pass\u00adports can lead to dif\u00adfi\u00adcul\u00adty for trans\u00adgen\u00adder peo\u00adple try\u00ading to work in the U.S. or trav\u00adel abroad. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s about social smooth\u00adness, being able to nav\u00adi\u00adgate things truth\u00adful\u00adly and not hav\u00ading paper\u00adwork mix ups that are annoy\u00ading for employ\u00aders and the employ\u00adee,\u201d Hors\u00ades\u00adtre\u00adingth said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppression of gender-affirming care<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Trump admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion has also attempt\u00aded to for\u00adbid gen\u00adder-affirm\u00ading care for peo\u00adple under 19 years old through the exec\u00adu\u00adtive order, \u201cPro\u00adtect\u00ading Chil\u00addren from Chem\u00adi\u00adcal and Sur\u00adgi\u00adcal Muti\u00adla\u00adtion.\u201d<\/a> The order threat\u00adens to with\u00adhold fed\u00ader\u00adal funds to med\u00adical facil\u00adi\u00adties and pro\u00adfes\u00adsion\u00adals who pro\u00advide hor\u00admone ther\u00ada\u00adpy or sur\u00adgi\u00adcal treat\u00adment for minors expe\u00adri\u00adenc\u00ading gen\u00adder dys\u00adpho\u00adria to tran\u00adsi\u00adtion to the gen\u00adder that fits their gen\u00adder iden\u00adti\u00adty. Trump, in a 2023 video<\/a> post\u00aded to his Truth Social page, described gen\u00adder-affirm\u00ading care for minors as \u201cchild abuse\u201d and \u201cchild sex\u00adu\u00adal muti\u00adla\u00adtion.\u201d The order also calls for the fed\u00ader\u00adal gov\u00adern\u00adment to stop rec\u00adog\u00adniz\u00ading what it calls \u201cjunk sci\u00adence,\u201d specif\u00adi\u00adcal\u00adly research from the World Pro\u00adfes\u00adsion\u00adal Asso\u00adci\u00ada\u00adtion for Trans\u00adgen\u00adder Health on gen\u00adder-affirm\u00ading care.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A fed\u00ader\u00adal judge issued an injunc\u00adtion in ear\u00adly March 2025 that put the exec\u00adu\u00adtive order on hold after a law\u00adsuit by PFLAG, an LGBTQ+ advo\u00adca\u00adcy group. Still, hos\u00adpi\u00adtals across the coun\u00adtry and in Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut have changed their poli\u00adcies to com\u00adply. In July, Yale New Haven Hos\u00adpi\u00adtal  announced that it would cease pro\u00advid\u00ading gen\u00adder-affirm\u00ading care to peo\u00adple under 19, and Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut Children\u2019s Med\u00adical Cen\u00adter said it would \u201cwind down\u201d the access to gen\u00adder-affirm\u00ading care for the same age group.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a pan\u00adel on gen\u00adder-affirm\u00ading care host\u00aded by Mid\u00addle\u00adtown Pride in Sep\u00adtem\u00adber 2025, Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut State rep\u00adre\u00adsen\u00adta\u00adtives explained the immense pres\u00adsure placed on med\u00adical providers by the White House. If the order were allowed to go into effect, hos\u00adpi\u00adtals that pro\u00advid\u00aded gen\u00adder-affirm\u00ading care for youth, such as Yale Hos\u00adpi\u00adtal, could be blocked from tak\u00ading any pay\u00adments from Med\u00adic\u00adaid, which is often the largest pay\u00ader in the sys\u00adtem.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s tens of bil\u00adlions of dol\u00adlars,\u201d said Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut Rep. Sarah Keitt. \u201cMon\u00adey that there\u2019s no way the state could make up, mon\u00adey that there\u2019s no way pri\u00advate insur\u00aders could make up, which would mean that Yale Hos\u00adpi\u00adtal would fold. It would mean that all the Yale clin\u00adics would fold across the state.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

William Tong, attor\u00adney gen\u00ader\u00adal for Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut, joined a law\u00adsuit<\/a> with oth\u00ader states to stop the exec\u00adu\u00adtive order from going into effect. He said it was among the many poli\u00adcies the Trump admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion has used that are \u201call about intim\u00adi\u00adda\u00adtion and antic\u00adi\u00adpa\u00adto\u00adry com\u00adpli\u00adance.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you mar\u00adgin\u00adal\u00adize peo\u00adple, if you deny them health\u00adcare, if you call them names, if you say that they\u2019re ille\u00adgit\u00adi\u00admate, if you say that their con\u00adcerns are not real, if you say it\u2019s a lifestyle choice and not a med\u00adical fac\u00adtor con\u00addi\u00adtion, if you say that the health care that are pro\u00advid\u00aded is not actu\u00adal\u00adly health care, if you do all of those things, not only do you mar\u00adgin\u00adal\u00adize peo\u00adple \u2014 which in and of itself caus\u00ades fear and anx\u00adi\u00adety \u2014 but you empow\u00ader oth\u00ader peo\u00adple to go after them,\u201d Tong said in an inter\u00adview.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jolene Boruc\u00adki, a trans\u00adgen\u00adder woman who ben\u00ade\u00adfit\u00aded from gen\u00adder-affirm\u00ading care as an adult. Pho\u00adto by Eli\u00adjah Polance<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jolene Boruc\u00adki, a trans\u00adgen\u00adder woman from Fair\u00adfield Coun\u00adty, said she was grate\u00adful for the gen\u00adder-affirm\u00ading care she received right before she turned 21 and wished she had access to it ear\u00adli\u00ader.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf I had the abil\u00adi\u00adty to receive that care when I was younger, I would be in a much bet\u00adter posi\u00adtion in my life right now,\u201d Boruc\u00adki said. \u201cAnd the fact that we\u2019re at a time where peo\u00adple are more aware of trans issues, of queer issues, and yet active efforts are being made to effec\u00adtive\u00adly ruin trans chil\u00addrens\u2019 lives and teenagers\u2019 lives, it\u2019s awful and it\u2019s dis\u00adgust\u00ading.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mic\u00adah Heumann, the direc\u00adtor of the Office of Under\u00adgrad\u00adu\u00adate Research at the Uni\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adty of Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut, has a trans\u00adgen\u00adder son who began receiv\u00ading gen\u00adder-affirm\u00ading care as a child. Heumann said the process involved a lot of dis\u00adcus\u00adsions with his fam\u00adi\u00adly and med\u00adical pro\u00adfes\u00adsion\u00adals.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNow he\u2019s 20 years old, and he\u2019s thriv\u00ading,\u201d Heumann said. \u201cI know it\u2019s just one sit\u00adu\u00ada\u00adtion, but it also shows when you give them what they deserve, and the health sys\u00adtem works the way it\u2019s sup\u00adposed to, that all the kids should be thriv\u00ading.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ban on trans athletes<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

On Feb. 5, 2025, Trump signed the exec\u00adu\u00adtive order \u201cKeep\u00ading Men Out of Women\u2019s Sports,<\/a>\u201d which for\u00adbids trans\u00adgen\u00adder women ath\u00adletes from par\u00adtic\u00adi\u00adpat\u00ading in sports com\u00adpe\u00adti\u00adtions held by schools, uni\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adties and gov\u00adern\u00ading bod\u00adies that receive fed\u00ader\u00adal fund\u00ading. The exec\u00adu\u00adtive order argues that allow\u00ading trans\u00adgen\u00adder women to par\u00adtic\u00adi\u00adpate infringes on Title IX pro\u00adtec\u00adtions for women. After the order was signed, Trump declared that \u201cwith this exec\u00adu\u00adtive order, the war on wom\u00aden\u2019s sports is over.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This fed\u00ader\u00adal inter\u00adpre\u00adta\u00adtion of Title IX pro\u00adtec\u00adtions and who it pro\u00adtects can con\u00adflict or over\u00adride state poli\u00adcies, includ\u00ading those in Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut. Connecticut\u2019s Title IX inter\u00adpre\u00adta\u00adtion requires pub\u00adlic schools to allow stu\u00addents to access sin\u00adgle-sex restrooms, lock\u00ader rooms and ath\u00adlet\u00adic teams that cor\u00adre\u00adspond to their gen\u00adder iden\u00adti\u00adty. The Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut Inter\u00adscholas\u00adtic Ath\u00adlet\u00adic Con\u00adfer\u00adence, a pri\u00advate orga\u00adni\u00adza\u00adtion that over\u00adsees inter\u00adscholas\u00adtic com\u00adpe\u00adti\u00adtion in the state, also has a pol\u00adi\u00adcy<\/a> that allows stu\u00addents to par\u00adtic\u00adi\u00adpate in sports with the team that fits their gen\u00adder iden\u00adti\u00adty. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Connecticut ACLU Legal Director Dan Barrett at the University of Connecticut on Sept. 25, 2025. Barrett said that due process is an integral part of democracy. Photo by Elijah Polance<\/p>\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/EXEC-FIRST3-Barrett-1024x681.jpg\" src=\"http:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/EXEC-FIRST3-Barrett-1024x681.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-619\" style=\"object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/EXEC-FIRST3-Barrett-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/EXEC-FIRST3-Barrett-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/EXEC-FIRST3-Barrett-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/EXEC-FIRST3-Barrett-1536x1021.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/EXEC-FIRST3-Barrett.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">
Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut ACLU Legal Direc\u00adtor Dan Bar\u00adrett at the Uni\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adty of Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut on Sept. 25, 2025. Bar\u00adrett said that the Trump admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion is try\u00ading to erase trans\u00adgen\u00adder peo\u00adple. Pho\u00adto by Eli\u00adjah Polance<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bar\u00adrett said stu\u00addents should be treat\u00aded as the gen\u00adder they iden\u00adti\u00adfy as in schools, includ\u00ading inter\u00adscholas\u00adtic sports. Accord\u00ading to Bar\u00adrett, this exec\u00adu\u00adtive order will over\u00adride Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut laws. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf they suc\u00adceed in get\u00adting a rul\u00ading that Title IX man\u00addates dis\u00adcrim\u00adi\u00adna\u00adtion against trans\u00adgen\u00adder stu\u00addents, that will stomp on Connecticut\u2019s equal par\u00adtic\u00adi\u00adpa\u00adtion law,\u201d Bar\u00adrett said. \u201cIt will change our law with\u00adout we, the peo\u00adple, hav\u00ading any\u00adthing to do with it.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accord\u00ading to the CT Mir\u00adror<\/a>, the U.S. Depart\u00adment of Edu\u00adca\u00adtion announced inves\u00adti\u00adga\u00adtions into Bloom\u00adfield, Can\u00adton and Cromwell pub\u00adlic schools in May and June 2025 for Title IX vio\u00adla\u00adtions for hav\u00ading allowed trans\u00adgen\u00adder ath\u00adletes to com\u00adpete on women\u2019s sports teams. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andraya Year\u00adwood, a trans\u00adgen\u00adder woman and for\u00admer high school track ath\u00adlete who faced a law\u00adsuit for her par\u00adtic\u00adi\u00adpa\u00adtion in sport. Pho\u00adto cour\u00adtesy of Andraya Year\u00adwood<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Andraya Year\u00adwood, a trans\u00adgen\u00adder woman, com\u00adpet\u00aded on Cromwell High School\u2019s women track team until she grad\u00adu\u00adat\u00aded in 2020. She was one of the defen\u00addants in a 2020 law\u00adsuit ini\u00adti\u00adat\u00aded by high school ath\u00adletes who thought she and oth\u00ader trans\u00adgen\u00adder ath\u00adletes should not be able to par\u00adtic\u00adi\u00adpate on women\u2019s teams. The law\u00adsuit was dis\u00admissed in 2022, but Year\u00adwood said the fed\u00ader\u00adal inves\u00adti\u00adga\u00adtion into her for\u00admer high school feels like it is open\u00ading up old wounds.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I found the news over the sum\u00admer, I heard about it, and I was kind of like, \u2018ugh, again?\u2019\u201d Year\u00adwood said. \u201cThe whole rea\u00adson why they dis\u00admissed the case to begin with was because we grad\u00adu\u00adat\u00aded. And now it\u2019s been like five years since, and you\u2019re still talk\u00ading about it? It\u2019s annoy\u00ading.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chilling Effects<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Trump administration\u2019s anti-trans stance has cre\u00adat\u00aded an atmos\u00adphere of fear for mem\u00adbers of the trans\u00adgen\u00adder com\u00admu\u00adni\u00adty and made peo\u00adple less com\u00adfort\u00adable express\u00ading their iden\u00adti\u00adty and find\u00ading com\u00admu\u00adni\u00adty, trans\u00adgen\u00adder indi\u00advid\u00adu\u00adals and advo\u00adcates said.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lind\u00adsey Pasquale, the north\u00adeast region\u00adal direc\u00adtor of PFLAG and co-pres\u00adi\u00addent of PFLAG Hart\u00adford, said each exec\u00adu\u00adtive order \u201chas a rip\u00adple effect through every queer per\u00adson out there, that their gov\u00adern\u00adment is in direct con\u00adflict with their exis\u00adtence.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pasquale said that in recent years there was enough gov\u00adern\u00adment accep\u00adtance that let trans\u00adgen\u00adder peo\u00adple have some amount of legal com\u00adfort.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNow, bring\u00ading that back\u00adwards is hav\u00ading neg\u00ada\u00adtive men\u00adtal health con\u00adse\u00adquences, and it\u2019s telling peo\u00adple that aren\u2019t out yet that it\u2019s not safe to be,\u201d Pasquale said. \u201cIt does\u00adn\u2019t make any of them less gay, or less trans, or less non-bina\u00adry, or less les\u00adbian or less bi. It makes them have to keep that as an intro\u00adspec\u00adtive thing.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ian Shick, the assis\u00adtant direc\u00adtor of UConn\u2019s Rain\u00adbow Cen\u00adter, an LGBTQ+ cul\u00adtur\u00adal cen\u00adter, said they fear the government\u2019s impact on youth the most. Because of Connecticut\u2019s legal pro\u00adtec\u00adtions sur\u00adround\u00ading LGBTQ+ peo\u00adple and iden\u00adti\u00adties, Shick said orga\u00adni\u00adza\u00adtions in the state have more pro\u00adtec\u00adtion from fed\u00ader\u00adal attacks than those else\u00adwhere in the coun\u00adtry. Since UConn\u2019s Rain\u00adbow Cen\u00adter is fund\u00aded by the state, Shick has no con\u00adcerns about the center\u2019s con\u00adtin\u00adued oper\u00ada\u00adtion and open\u00adness for LGBTQ+ sup\u00adport. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shick also said the government\u2019s stance has changed the way some LGBTQ+ orga\u00adni\u00adza\u00adtions oper\u00adate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know that ten\u00adsion of \u2018get the work done\u2019 ver\u00adsus \u2018do it in the most up front, extrav\u00ada\u00adgant, lib\u00ader\u00ada\u00adto\u00adry way,\u2019 those some\u00adtimes come into con\u00adflict with each oth\u00ader,\u201d Shick said. \u201cYou\u2019re nev\u00ader going to make a good choice. If you do it out in the open you might risk your\u00adself get\u00adting shut down. And if you do it in pri\u00advate peo\u00adple will see it as a removal of rep\u00adre\u00adsen\u00adta\u00adtion or hid\u00ading away\u2014 bend\u00ading the knee if you will.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christi Throw\u00ader con\u00adtributed report\u00ading to this arti\u00adcle.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Eli\u00adjah Polance UConn Jour\u00adnal\u00adism  In the year since Pres\u00adi\u00addent Don\u00adald Trump took office, he has signed five exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders direct\u00aded toward the trans\u00adgen\u00adder com\u00admu\u00adni\u00adty.   Framed as pro\u00adtec\u00adtions for women and chil\u00addren, the orders tar\u00adget recog\u00adni\u00adtion and inclu\u00adsion of trans\u00adgen\u00adder indi\u00advid\u00adu\u00adals in fed\u00ader\u00adal\u00adly fund\u00aded pro\u00adgrams and schools. The first order said the fed\u00ader\u00adal gov\u00adern\u00adment will only rec\u00adog\u00adnize \u201cmale\u201d and \u201cfemale\u201d as accept\u00adable gen\u00adders, based on one\u2019s [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1110,"featured_media":2055,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wp_typography_post_enhancements_disabled":false,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[96,95,97,98],"class_list":["post-1038","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-communities","tag-gender-affirming-care","tag-lgbtq","tag-society","tag-transgender"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/1280px-2017.07.29_Stop_Transgender_Military_Ban_Washington_DC_USA_7734_36262659735.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2020,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/gender-affirming-care\/","url_meta":{"origin":1038,"position":0},"title":"Gender Affirming Care","author":"Charlotte Harvey","date":"January 8, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Press Release: Attorney General Tong Sues to Block Unlawful Attacks on Medically Necessary Health Care Preceding Event: On Jan. 28, 2025, President Donald Trump signed\u00a0Executive Order 14187. The order\u00a0rescinded previous directives\u00a0and notices, directs multiple agencies and departments to review or change existing policies and change the inclusion of gender affirming\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "lawsuits"","block_context":{"text":"lawsuits","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/lawsuits\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":712,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/executive-orders\/","url_meta":{"origin":1038,"position":1},"title":"Trump uses executive orders to expand power ","author":"Christi Thrower","date":"January 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"By Christi ThrowerUConn Journalism President Donald Trump signing an executive order in the Oval Office. Trump signed 218 executive orders in the first year of his second term. Photo courtesy of the White House. While executive orders are intended as stopgap measures to bypass Congress for important acts,\u00a0some experts say\u00a0President\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Executive Power"","block_context":{"text":"Executive Power","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/executive-power\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/SOC-DEI-Trump-Signing-order.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/SOC-DEI-Trump-Signing-order.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/SOC-DEI-Trump-Signing-order.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/SOC-DEI-Trump-Signing-order.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/SOC-DEI-Trump-Signing-order.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/SOC-DEI-Trump-Signing-order.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1096,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/trump-second-term-spurs-dei-culture-shift\/","url_meta":{"origin":1038,"position":2},"title":"Trump second term spurs DEI culture shift ","author":"Christi Thrower","date":"January 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"By Christi Thrower\u00a0UConn Journalism Underrepresented. Diversity. LGBTQ. Woman.\u00a0 These are some of the words\u00a0or phrases\u00a0deleted\u00a0from federal agencies\u2019\u00a0websites\u00a0and\u00a0targeted by\u00a0grant\u00a0cuts\u00a0in the past year\u00a0\u2013\u00a0just one\u00a0part of a sweeping campaign by President Donald Trump\u2019s administration to remove \u201cDEI rhetoric\u201d from public\u00a0life.\u00a0 In\u00a0the first year of his second term, Trump has used threats to federal\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Communities"","block_context":{"text":"Communities","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/communities\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/White-House-Washington-DC-101525-Bunnell.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/White-House-Washington-DC-101525-Bunnell.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/White-House-Washington-DC-101525-Bunnell.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/White-House-Washington-DC-101525-Bunnell.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":334,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/uncertainty-roils-schools-as-trump-targets-k-12\/","url_meta":{"origin":1038,"position":3},"title":"Uncertainty roils schools as Trump targets K\u201112","author":"Bridget Bronsdon","date":"January 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"It started almost right away. Within nine days of President Donald Trump\u2019s return to office, he set his sights on education.","rel":"","context":"In "Education"","block_context":{"text":"Education","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-SCHOOLS-West-hartford-busses.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-SCHOOLS-West-hartford-busses.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-SCHOOLS-West-hartford-busses.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-SCHOOLS-West-hartford-busses.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-SCHOOLS-West-hartford-busses.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-SCHOOLS-West-hartford-busses.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1709,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/explainer-video-series-an-overview-on-presidential-power\/","url_meta":{"origin":1038,"position":4},"title":"Video explainer series: An overview on presidential power","author":"Lily Goldblatt","date":"January 7, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"By Lily GoldblattUConn Journalism Following President Donald Trump's return to office in January 2025, his administration has taken an expansive interpretation of executive power and broadened the scope of the executive branch exponentially. In the first year of his second term, he has passed a total of 225 executive orders,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Executive Power"","block_context":{"text":"Executive Power","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/executive-power\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/exec-overview-thumbnail-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/exec-overview-thumbnail-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/exec-overview-thumbnail-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/exec-overview-thumbnail-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/exec-overview-thumbnail-1.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/exec-overview-thumbnail-1.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":320,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/executive-power\/","url_meta":{"origin":1038,"position":5},"title":"Executive Power","author":"Mikayla Bunnell","date":"January 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The White House in Washington, DC, on Oct. 21, 2025. Article 2 of the Constitution establishes the office of the presidency, including pardoning powers. Photo by Lily Goldblatt. Article 2, Section 1, established the office of the presidency. The clause requires that the president and the executive branch \u201cfaithfully executes\u201d\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Constitution"","block_context":{"text":"Constitution","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/constitution\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/11\/white-house_10212025-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/11\/white-house_10212025-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/11\/white-house_10212025-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/11\/white-house_10212025-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/11\/white-house_10212025-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/11\/white-house_10212025-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pgTa6m-gK","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1038","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1110"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1038"}],"version-history":[{"count":28,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1038\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2059,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1038\/revisions\/2059"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2055"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1038"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1038"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1038"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}