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The blunt reality of Trump’s policies is setting in, and Hunter Schafer’s new port is proof.
The Euphoria actress posted a lengthy video to TikTok discussing the implications of Trump’s Jan. 20 executive order for trans people, beginning with the fact her new port was issued with an “M,” the male gender marker.
The trickle-down effect of this order is already being experienced all around. New port applications with the X gender marker or requests to change gender markers have since been frozen by the State Department, leaving many non-binary or trans individuals without valid travel documentation.
Schafer’s acknowledgment of her own privileges—being a celebrity, white, thin, and adhering to conventional beauty standards—reinforces how these ideologically-driven orders are blind to race and class divides. No number of safeguards can spare you from discrimination.
The star’s shock and speechlessness mirror a broader American reaction to their changing political landscape, which seems to take a turn every day. Schafer itted her skepticism toward Trump’s pledge that upon being sworn in, he would sign an order for the nation to only recognize individuals for their sex assigned at birth.
This “I’ll believe it when I see it” attitude speaks to how many Americans felt about Trump’s campaign promises.
Options recognizing gender diversity in official documentation haven’t existed for long. In 2022, Secretary of State Antony Blinken released a statement announcing gender non-conforming port applicants could select a third option, X, as a gender marker. People were also permitted to update the sex listed on their ports to reflect their gender identity.
These policies, once seen as a hard-earned victory, are now being revoked retroactively.
Victories for the 2SLGBTQ+ community haven’t been easy to come by, making it all the more unjust that the beliefs of one powerful figure can disproportionately erase decades worth of advocacy and organization from activists that paved the way for eventual policy change.
Now, people are in disbelief their President is following through with promises that once seemed like tall claims that lacked conviction. Even some Trump voters are expressing dissatisfaction with the direction the country is headed, contributing to his lowering approval ratings.
It’s a lesson for us to take the threats of those in power seriously, despite how unserious of a leader they might be.
The history of relentless advocacy and civil disobedience for the 2SLGBTQ+ community—and other marginalized groups in America—shows nothing goes without a fight. However, it’s hard to say what these battles will look like.
New executive orders and threats to halt or undo the progress of vulnerable communities will continue to change America’s political landscape in the next four years, creating an uncertain future for everyone. One thing’s for sure—we must pledge to protect one another.
The beginnings of consequential policies like this are as good a wake-up call as ever.
—Journal Editorial Board
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