Orange is the New Threat
Over the past few years, it has become increasingly evident how much politics shapes the lives of the LGBTQ+ community. While this has always been true—dating back to landmark moments like the Stonewall Riots and the AIDS epidemic—the Trump administration showcased just how drastically political decisions can alter the landscape for LGBTQ+ individuals in America. With an election fast approaching, it’s worth reflecting on how the political climate under Trump affected LGBTQ+ rights, attitudes, and the community’s fight for equality.
Trump’s Early Stance on LGBTQ+ Issues
Before his presidency, Trump’s relationship with LGBTQ+ issues was complex, if not contradictory. Back in 1999, during an interview on Meet the Press, he stated that gays serving openly in the military was “not something that would disturb me.” Around the same time, he also proclaimed himself “pro-choice.” His stance seemed, on the surface, to suggest a more moderate position on LGBTQ+ rights.
In February 2000, in an interview with The Advocate, Trump expressed his support for amending the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include protections based on sexual orientation. He even voiced support for hate crime legislation in the wake of the murders of Matthew Shepard and James Byrd. However, by the time he briefly campaigned for the Reform Party later that year, his support for marriage equality had waned. He did, however, back civil unions during this period, indicating some level of recognition for LGBTQ+ relationships.
Fast forward to 2011, and Trump’s stance shifted considerably. By this time, he was identifying as a conservative Republican and voiced his opposition to gay marriage. His positions wavered over time, reflecting both the social pressures of the GOP and his personal inclinations. By the time he announced his candidacy for president in 2016, Trump had become a polarizing figure for LGBTQ+ Americans—offering the community mixed signals and, at times, outright opposition.
Trump's Pre-Presidency Stance on LGBTQ+ Rights: A Shifting Narrative
In January 2016, Donald Trump was questioned about the Supreme Court's landmark 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage across the United States. At the time, he indicated he would strongly consider appointing conservative justices to the Court who might overturn the decision, stating that marriage equality should be a matter left for individual states to decide.
In April of the same year, Trump initially spoke out against North Carolina’s controversial House Bill Two (HB2), which eliminated local anti-discrimination protections stricter than state law and required people to use restrooms corresponding to the sex on their birth certificates in government buildings. He stated he would not have signed the bill into law, and when asked which restroom a transgender person should use in one of his buildings, he said they should use the one that makes them most comfortable.
However, by July 2016, after becoming the presumptive Republican nominee for president, Trump reversed his position and expressed support for the bill.
Following the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando on June 13, 2016, Trump gave a speech highlighting the threat of radical Islamic terrorism. In his address, he posed a question to the LGBTQ+ community, suggesting they choose between him and his opponent, Hillary Clinton, claiming terrorists "murder gays" and asserting, "I don’t want them in our country." Notably, this speech lacked any proposals for domestic policies to address issues directly impacting LGBTQ+ people.
A month before the 2016 election, Trump wrote to the president of CatholicVote.org, affirming his support for legislation that would protect the religious freedom of Christians opposed to same-sex marriage. Later, at an October rally, he criticized the open service of transgender Americans in the military as a product of a “political correct military” and stated he would seek recommendations from military leaders on the issue.
Nine days before the election, during a Colorado rally, Trump accepted a Pride flag from an audience member with “LGBT for Trump” written on it—though he notably held the flag upside down during a photo op. Shortly after being elected, Trump appeared to soften his stance on same-sex marriage. In an interview with Leslie Stahl on 60 Minutes, he remarked that his views on marriage equality were "irrelevant" and expressed that the Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell had settled the matter.
A Presidency Fraught with Setbacks for LGBTQ+ Rights
When Trump took office in 2017, his administration swiftly began rolling back protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. Mere minutes after his inauguration, mentions of the LGBTQ+ community were scrubbed from the websites of the White House, the Department of State, and the Department of Labor. In a symbolic erasure of LGBTQ+ voices, these changes foreshadowed the policy shifts that would soon follow.
Throughout his presidency, Trump’s policies reflected a stark departure from the progress made under the Obama administration. He systematically dismantled protections for transgender individuals, including rescinding federal guidelines that allowed transgender students to use bathrooms aligning with their gender identity. His administration also made it easier for businesses to discriminate against LGBTQ+ employees by undermining anti-discrimination laws.
Notably, Trump’s administration oversaw the implementation of a ban on transgender service members in the military. This ban was met with both legal challenges and fierce public outcry. Despite studies from the military itself indicating that transgender individuals posed no disruption to military readiness, the administration persisted in enforcing the policy.
Another devastating blow came with the weakening of healthcare protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. By rolling back provisions in the Affordable Care Act, the Trump administration made it easier for healthcare providers to refuse care to LGBTQ+ patients based on religious or moral objections. This was a particularly cruel move during a global pandemic when access to healthcare was paramount.
The Supreme Court and the LGBTQ+ Community
Trump’s influence extended far beyond his four years in office, particularly in his appointment of conservative Supreme Court justices. Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, two of his nominees, brought the court firmly into a conservative majority, raising concerns about the future of landmark rulings like Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.
While Gorsuch surprised many by authoring the opinion in Bostock v. Clayton County in 2020—ruling that LGBTQ+ individuals are protected from workplace discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act—the overall judicial appointments under Trump remained overwhelmingly hostile to LGBTQ+ rights. The administration continued to support arguments in favor of allowing businesses to discriminate against LGBTQ+ employees based on religious exemptions, further entrenching the divide between equality and religious freedom claims.
Advocacy in the Face of Adversity
Despite these setbacks, the LGBTQ+ community proved resilient. The four years under Trump reignited a passion for advocacy that some consider to have been somewhat tempered after the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2015. The community and its allies recognized the dangers of complacency and mobilized to defend hard-won rights.
Organizations like GLAAD and Lambda Legal stepped up to track the administration’s harmful policies and mount legal challenges. Grassroots movements saw a resurgence as LGBTQ+ Americans and their allies organized protests, raised funds for advocacy groups, and pushed for greater representation in politics.
Looking Ahead: The Importance of Action
As we approach another election, it’s vital to remember the lessons of the Trump administration. The progress we’ve made as a community is fragile, and political forces can easily reverse decades of hard work. The LGBTQ+ community cannot afford to be passive. We must remain vigilant, advocate for equality, and ensure that our voices are heard at the polls.
While the Trump administration was a dark time for LGBTQ+ rights, it also served as a reminder that the fight for equality is far from over. We’ve made it through those challenging years, and now it’s up to us to keep pushing forward, building on the wins we’ve achieved, and ensuring that future administrations prioritize and protect LGBTQ+ rights.
Let’s celebrate our victories, but more importantly, let’s keep the momentum going. Voting is crucial, and we must ensure that everyone understands the stakes. Share this message with friends and family, educate those who may not fully grasp the impact of these policies, and most importantly, show up. Together, we can secure a future where all LGBTQ+ individuals are treated with dignity and respect under the law.
And remember. Every day is all we have, so you've got to make your own happiness.
For more information on this topic, listen to Episode 122. A Queer Review of the Trump Administration (2017 – 2021).
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