Transgender people working in U.S. government see peril under Trump

The Air Force lieutenant colonel left the Pentagon one day and returned the next — with a new name and a new gender identity. But many are now worried that the broad advances they achieved over the last decade will be reversed under President-elect Donald Trump, who has likened gender transition to “mutilation,” vowed to roll back job protections and healthcare for trans workers and threatened to reimpose a ban against transgender people serving in the military. “So while none of us know exactly what will come to pass, there is still certainly that concern that it’s not going to be good for transgender people serving in the military.” A group of Republican lawmakers is already attempting to bar incoming Rep. Sarah McBride, the first out transgender person elected to Congress, from using women’s restrooms. “It is our collective responsibility to ensure transgender persons can live full lives, without fear of harm,” Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said just last month. “The United States is committed to fighting for a world that accepts and respects transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming persons.” Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, pictured in September, said last month that “it is our collective responsibility to ensure transgender persons can live full lives, without fear of harm.” “Until then,” he said, “we proudly advocate to end transphobic discrimination, violence and homicide.” It is not clear these programs would continue under Trump and his nominee for secretary of State, Sen. Marco Rubio.