“I will do everything in my power to protect our LGBTQ citizens from the violence and oppression of a hateful foreign ideology” – President Donald Trump at the Republican National Convention in 2016.
Another comment that has been contradicted by his actions. The Trump administration announced today that they have eliminated the health protections of the Transgender community, brought in during Obama’s reign. They have removed a rule that prohibits discrimination in healthcare based on gender identity. Any health professional now has the power to refuse services to Transgender people. This announcement comes on the same day as the 4 year anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting and during Pride Month.
This is not the only LGBTQ+ topic Trump has assaulted. Within his first week of office he banned Transgender citizens from joining and operating in the military. In August 2019, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a brief to the Supreme Court to allow businesses to fire citizens based of their sexuality and gender identity, which will be decided this month.
Despite all this, The Log Cabin Republican group which is a large organisation representing LGBTQ+ conservatives recently backed President Trump for the 2020 election after choosing not to in 2016. This has potential to increase his voter percentage in 2020 of the LGBTQ+ group, which was 14% in his first election.
The President has been playing both sides during his 3 and a half years, posting statements or tweets however his administration are asking to legalise discrimination of LGBTQ+ people in military, health and workplace.
Trump does not want to protect the LGBTQ+ community, he has in fact launched an assault on them. This group that I am proud to be apart of is about to be set back 30 years in which religious freedoms were prioritised over basic human rights. This is an important issue that must be brought forward to the 2020 election, and an issue Vice-President Joe Biden should make the President accountable for.
On the fourth anniversary of Pulse.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) June 13, 2020
In the middle of Pride month.
During a global pandemic.
Donald Trump’s cruelty truly knows no bounds. We have to defeat him this November. https://t.co/YAy4ZGxxyD
The community has come a long way but hardline conservatism has been trying to drag us back to the 60’s. PinkNews reported ‘The Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to allow adoption agencies to discriminate against same-sex couples in the name of religion’. Attorney’s have asked for the Supreme Court to rule in favour of the Catholic Social Services because of their first amendment rights.
The community has come a long way however, hardline conservatism has been dragging us back to the 1960’s. Trump and his administration claim they have done everything to protect the LGBTQ+ community, even releasing ‘MAGA’ rainbow t-shirts to suggest he still supports them, but this is ridiculous. This administration has prioritised religious freedoms and ‘hate speech’ over human rights. The LGBTQ+ and allies in the United States of America must do everything they can to stop this enhancing assault on its community and vote him out of office.
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