Donald Trump signed an executive order titled ‘Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government’ shortly after returning to office. The order asserts that there are only two genders, male and female, and that these are biologically fixed. As a result, passport applications with an ‘X’ gender marker, introduced under the Biden administration for non-binary individuals, have been suspended. The policy may also affect non-binary and intersex Americans, although those with ‘X’ passports may still use them temporarily.
Additionally, the order mandates that transgender women be excluded from female prisons, citing concerns over safety and privacy. The move has sparked mixed reactions, with some advocating for the change, while others warn it could lead to increased harm to transgender prisoners. The administration’s approach to these issues has stirred significant controversy, particularly among LGBTQ+ advocacy groups.