Former United States President Donald Trump has reiterated his conservative stance on gender, asserting that God originally created two genders, male and female, in a swipe at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ+) community.
While addressing a gathering over the weekend, the former president emphasised that if re-elected, he would take action to combat what he termed the “toxic poison” of gender ideology.
“I will take historic action to defeat the toxic poison of gender ideology and reassert that in the beginning, God created two genders, male and female,” he declared to cheers from the audience.
During his time in office, Trump implemented policies that were widely perceived as anti-LGBTQ+. However, most of these policies have been reversed by his successor, Joe Biden.
In Ghana, a bill is currently before parliament with the aim of explicitly criminalising LGBTQ+ activities. The bill, which was introduced in July 2021 by eight members of parliament, is officially titled the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021. The bill has been widely condemned by human rights groups, activists, celebrities, and foreign governments as a violation of international human rights law and standards.
Before becoming president, Trump had a mixed record on LGBTQ issues. He expressed support for some LGBTQ rights, such as civil unions and non-discrimination laws, but also opposed others, such as same-sex marriage and transgender military service.
During his 2016 presidential campaign, Trump claimed to be a “friend” of the LGBTQ community and promised to protect them from violence and oppression. He also held up a rainbow flag with “LGBTs for TRUMP” written on it at a rally in Colorado.
However, after taking office in 2017, Trump and his administration enacted or proposed several policies that were widely seen as harmful or hostile to the LGBTQ community. Some of these policies include:
- Rescinding the Obama-era guidance that instructed public schools to allow transgender students to use the bathrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity.
- Banning transgender people from serving in the military, citing “tremendous medical costs and disruption”.
- Excluding sexual orientation and gender identity questions from the 2020 Census and other federal surveys.
- Appointing judges and officials who have anti-LGBTQ records or views, such as Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, Mike Pence, Jeff Sessions, and Betsy DeVos.
- Supporting the right of businesses and individuals to refuse service to LGBTQ people on religious grounds.
- Cutting funding for HIV/AIDS research and prevention programs.
- Erasing or ignoring LGBTQ issues from the White House website, official statements, and proclamations.
Despite these actions, Trump has also made some gestures of support or recognition for the LGBTQ community, such as:
- Declaring June 2019 as “LGBT Pride Month” and calling on the international community to decriminalize homosexuality.
- Launching a global campaign to end the criminalization of homosexuality in countries where it is illegal.
- Nominating Richard Grenell, an openly gay man, as the U.S. ambassador to Germany and later as the acting director of national intelligence.
- Signing a law that designates the site of the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting as a national memorial.
Trump’s relationship with the LGBTQ community has been complex and contradictory. He has shown some signs of support or tolerance for LGBTQ rights, but has also implemented or endorsed many policies that undermine or threaten them. His actions have sparked criticism, protests, and lawsuits from LGBTQ activists.