Systematic Removal of LGBTQAI+ Rights Under the Trump Administration
The Trump administration enacted a sweeping rollback of rights and protections for the LGBTQAI+ community, with transgender individuals facing especially aggressive targeting through policy, executive actions, and public rhetoric. Across federal agencies, this administration redefined “sex” strictly on a biological basis, thereby stripping transgender and nonbinary people of legal recognition and federal protection in employment, healthcare, education, housing, and participation in federal programs. Policies and anti-discrimination protections that previously safeguarded LGBTQAI+ persons from exclusion in key public spheres were rescinded. This culminated in the withdrawal of anti-discrimination guidance for schools, the banning of transgender people from military service, suspension of gender-affirming healthcare in federal programs, and restrictions even on accurate identity documentation for passports and federal records, which no longer recognize gender markers beyond the sex assigned at birth. Accompanying these systemic rollbacks was the removal of LGBTQ and HIV resources from federal agency websites, suppression of visibility, and a calculated effort to erase transgender lived experience from both educational environments and public records.
Focus on Transgender Rights: Specific Removals and Restrictions
Transgender people have borne the brunt of these policy changes and revocations. Notably, the administration:
Redefined Gender in Law: Enforced an executive order mandating that federal agencies define “sex” solely by biological characteristics at birth, invalidating the use of gender identity in law and policy.
Military Exclusion: Reinstated and expanded the ban on transgender people serving openly in the U.S. military, resulting in loss of livelihood and stigmatization for thousands of qualified service members.
Healthcare Discrimination: Denied or restricted federal funding for gender-affirming care, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy, particularly impacting youth and those dependent on Medicare and TRICARE.
Restrictions in Education: Directed schools to bar transgender students from accessing restrooms or participating in sports in alignment with their gender identity, and threatened withdrawal of funding or legal action against institutions that maintained supportive or inclusive policies.
Identity Documentation: Blocked or reversed the ability for transgender and nonbinary individuals to change federal identification documents, such as passports, to accurately reflect their identity.
Prison and Shelter Safety: Forced incarcerated transgender women to be housed in men’s prisons and denied access to gender-affirming healthcare and personal safety precautions, greatly increasing their risk of violence and mistreatment.
Consequences and Suffering Experienced by Transgender and LGBTQAI+ People
The immediate and long-term consequences of these actions are widespread suffering and deepening vulnerability for transgender and LGBTQAI+ people. Without anti-discrimination protections, individuals face legal, social, and physical exclusion from employment, housing, and healthcare—domains indispensable for security and well-being. Bans on gender-affirming healthcare contribute to alarming rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidality, particularly among trans youth. When schools are barred from affirming transgender identities, students report higher rates of harassment, mental health distress, and risk of family rejection or abuse if outed against their will. The inability to obtain accurate documentation hinders travel, public safety, economic opportunity, and increases everyday encounters with harassment and the risk of violence. Removal from or denial of essential medical care causes direct physical harm, and the symbolic effect of erasing references to transgender people from official resources communicates to society that such individuals are not worthy of recognition or protection. For those incarcerated or dependent on government programs or shelters, policy changes have made them more vulnerable to assault, neglect, and dehumanization.
Human Rights and National Greatness: The Fundamental Connection
History and global expertise affirm that the removal of human rights protections does not make a nation greater; rather, it undermines the foundations of equality, unity, and social advancement. Credible analyses by the United Nations, experts in governance, and human rights organizations consistently show that denying equal rights not only breeds suffering and stymies social progress but also damages a nation’s international reputation, economic capacity, and political legitimacy. Social progress, peace, and innovation are products of inclusive policies that empower every individual to thrive. Thus, undermining marginalized groups—be it through law, rhetoric, or neglect—weakens national cohesion and perpetuates cycles of poverty, violence, and discrimination, further impeding an honest claim to greatness.
Empowerment, Equality, and the Path to True National Greatness
A truly great nation is measured by its capacity to empower all its citizens, offering them the liberties, protections, and opportunities needed to maximize their potential and contribute to society. When governments champion equal rights, the benefits accrue to everyone, producing resilience, talent, innovation, and shared prosperity. Studies demonstrate that closing opportunity gaps and investing in the rights and education of marginalized groups directly translates to national economic growth and international competitiveness. The United States’ own experience with the success of the civil rights and women’s liberation movements underscores that the removal of barriers for one group expands the prospects and well-being of society as a whole. In justice and economic advancement, as well as national pride, equality is not a zero-sum game—when one group is lifted, the entire nation progresses.
The Black Community: Inequality and Discrimination From Slavery to the Present
The Black community in the United States offers a sobering history of how persistent inequality and lack of rights erode a nation’s greatness. From the era of slavery through the centuries of Jim Crow, redlining, mass incarceration, and economic exclusion, Black Americans have faced systematic denial of the rights and protections enjoyed by others. Structural racism has manifested in disparities in wealth, education, housing, and health that persist across generations, with Black families holding just a fraction of the wealth of white families and experiencing elevated rates of poverty, unemployment, and incarceration. Despite formal legal victories during the Civil Rights Era, practical equality in access to opportunity and security remains elusive for many. The legacy of exclusion continues to affect outcomes for millions, confirming that a nation is not truly great when significant portions of its people remain unprotected and denied their basic rights.
Suffering and the Enduring Denial of Equal Rights for Black Americans
Black Americans have never fully realized equal rights in the United States; even after the abolition of slavery, new systems of control and exclusion were established to maintain hierarchy and inequality. Jim Crow laws codified disenfranchisement and separation; discriminatory housing policies entrenched generational poverty; and ongoing inequities in education, policing, and access to healthcare sustain gaps in well-being and opportunity. The enduring denial of equal rights and economic justice has made the Black community particularly susceptible to social and economic shocks, thereby limiting the nation’s claim to democracy and progress. Far from making America “great,” these patterns of exclusion and discrimination have suppressed the nation’s potential and hindered social unity.
The True Meaning of “Make America Great Again”: A Call for Equal Rights
The slogan “Make America Great Again” will remain hollow unless it is grounded in a genuine and universal commitment to equality. The history of the United States illustrates that advances in greatness—whether measured in terms of justice, prosperity, innovation, or unity—are always linked to the expansion of rights and inclusion of those previously excluded. Fighting for equal rights is not only a matter of justice for the LGBTQAI+ community or Black Americans; it is a rational self-interest for all Americans, as societies that are free, inclusive, and equal are stronger, healthier, and more prosperous. National greatness, viewed in this light, demands dismantling legal and systemic barriers that prevent any group from fully participating in the life of the country.
Strategic Unity: Why the LGBTQAI+ Movement and the Black Community Should Join Forces
Achieving substantive and lasting equality is most effective when marginalized communities find common cause and solidarity. Given that the Black community in the U.S.—with nearly 48 million individuals making up about 14-15% of the population—is numerically much larger than the estimated transgender population (about 1.3 million adults, less than 1% of adults). Joining the fight for equal rights amplifies collective strength and influence, mobilizing both civic engagement and political will. Coalition-building between LGBTQAI+ and Black communities is not merely strategic due to demographics; it is underpinned by shared interests and intertwined struggles against structural inequities. Organizations such as the National Black Justice Coalition and cross-movement advocacy demonstrate that partnership increases visibility, resource mobilization, and effectiveness in challenging systemic discrimination, thus increasing the chance of legislative, judicial, and cultural progress. As numbers and solidarity increase, so does the power to shape public opinion, win policy change, and create a truly inclusive society.
The Power of Numbers in the Fight for Equality
Social change depends on both the power of ideas and the mobilization of communities. Demographically, the greater size of the Black population in the U.S. translates into more substantial voting blocs, broader community networks, and increased social impact when fighting for civil rights. Integrating the call for LGBTQAI+ rights and Black equality reinforces the message that justice for one is justice for all, achieving efficiencies through shared advocacy and a wider support base. The result is a more effective challenge to legal and systemic discrimination, greater political leverage, and a model of unity that reflects the highest ideals of a democratic society.
Conclusion: Equality as the Foundation of National Greatness
To genuinely make a country great—or reclaim any moral or historic greatness—the path is not through exclusion, division, or the revocation of essential human rights. Greatness is realized when all citizens are protected, valued, and empowered, and when equality is made the highest priority of law and culture. The U.S. must therefore reject policies of discrimination and marginalization, instead advancing transformative inclusion for both LGBTQAI+ and Black Americans. Fighting for equal rights is not only a moral obligation and a matter of principle; it is the only rational way forward for building a thriving, unified, and truly great society.
