Yesterday, the New York Times reported that the Trump administration is considering directing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to narrowly define sex as either male or female, unchangeable and determined by the genitals a person is born with. This restrictive definition of gender would establish a new legal definition of sex under Title IX, the federal law that bans gender discrimination in education programs that receive government funding, and likely undermine enforcement of existing civil rights protections for LGBT people, especially those who are transgender, nonbinary, and intersex.
In reaction to this potential proposal, our San Diego County transgender and LGBT organizations stand together, united, and ready to fight back, should this draft rule change move forward. While we are deeply alarmed by this proposed attempt to narrowly define gender at the federal level, we also know that we have science, morality, and decades of legal precedent and California law that affirms the identities and existence of our transgender, intersex, and nonbinary family members, neighbors, colleagues, and friends. More, we have the strength and resilience of our trans, intersex, and nonbinary community, leading us towards full equality. We will vigorously fight any proposal that seeks to eliminate much-needed civil rights protections for our community.
Locally, we invite everyone to join us at three community meetings this evening: for those 21+ and over, at Gossip Grill starting at 8:30pm, San Diego Pride office for youth 18 – 21 starting at 5 – 7pm, and the Hillcrest Youth Center for youth 14 – 18 starting at 4:30 – 9pm, and the North County LGBTQ Resource Center open to all ages from 6 – 8pm. To our trans, intersex, and nonbinary siblings, our organizations are here to support you if you need community resources.
Most of all, we want to assure our LGBTQI community that we are united and steadfastly committed to providing support and services to our trans community. #WeWillNotBeErased.
The San Diego LGBT Community Center
San Diego Pride
North County LGBTQ Resource Center
San Diego Trans Pride
The Neutral Corner Inc.
The T-Spot
TransFamily Support Services
PFLAG San Diego County
Fernando Lopez is the Executive Director of San Diego Pride. Lopez’s years of LGBT advocacy, nonprofit management, public education, diversity consulting, media relations, guest lectures, and organizing have made them a consistent presence ensuring the struggles of the LGBT community are ever visible.
