This week multiple news outlets reported that the Trump administration is considering narrowly defining gender as a biological, immutable condition determined by genitalia at birth, which will eliminate the rights of transgender people. The plan includes having the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) ignore modern science, medicine and the law. This is a direct attack on the civil and human rights of millions of Americans in the transgender and gender nonconforming community.
The Vermont Center for Independent Living is committed to using intersectional outreach in its policy work. This encompasses a deliberate and genuine fight for the fundamental rights of our members, which include the trans community. It is well-known that transgender individuals have full rights established years ago through multiple courts. This administration has continuously tried to dismantle the rights of many in this country and this is another attack that we will not tolerate. A reversal of the civil rights of this community will do nothing but cause more harm.
We believe that trans people have the right to live safely in the community, have self-determination and be included in every aspect of life. VCIL demands that the administration reverse this direct and biased attack on the transgender and gender nonconforming community. We stand with the broad civil and human rights organizations to oppose and push back against these plans. An attack on trans people and their communities is also an attack on the rights of people with disabilities. VCIL is proud to partner with local LGBT+ organizations and will continue to do so.