Life in America for LGBTQ+ people was never easy, but conservatives under Trump have made it their mission to make it worse. What is happening to LGBTQ+ Americans is often termed ‘denationalization.’
Homophobia and transphobia have been staples within conservative circles. For some conservatives, it is a matter of cultural belief, while others cite religious reasons. Sociologists view this as a ‘fear of social change.’ This fear usually manifests in rhetoric that homosexual and trans people are ‘destroying the traditional family structure.’
Denationalization gives these fears and rhetoric a dangerous form, as its aim is not the removal of LGBTQ+ people but the control of them.
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The Cruel History Of Denationalization In America
In simple terms, denationalization means removing or diminishing the national identity of a particular group—in this case, LGBTQ+ people. Denationalization can take various forms. For instance, in a legal sense, it could mean stripping someone of their citizenship. It can also take a cultural and social form by erasing a group’s local culture or language. It can have an economic component as well, such as excluding certain groups from employment or social security.
America has a rich history of denationalizing various groups. During its early years, Native Americans went through the process of cultural and social denationalization. White Americans systematically erased their culture, way of life, languages, and arts. In an extreme form of denationalization, the U.S. government separated Native children from their parents and forced them into boarding schools to erase their culture by “re-educating” them.
Various minority groups have also faced denationalization at some point in American history. For example, Black Americans after the Civil War in 1865. Black Americans faced denationalization in the form of Jim Crow laws, segregation, and voter suppression. Other groups included Japanese Americans during the Second World War and Mexican Americans during the Mexican Repatriation in the 1930s.
LGBTQ+ People Are the Next Targets
In just the first few months of the Trump presidency, the administration has made a series of decisions with the sole aim of denationalizing the LGBTQ+ group. On his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order that only recognized two genders: male and female. It was the first step towards the exclusion and denationalization of trans people.
In the following days, the U.S. witnessed continuous attacks on trans people. Trump banned gender-affirming care, directly impacting trans youth. Next were restrictions on transgender individuals serving in the military. Transgender women were banned from taking part in women’s sports at all levels. The administration pulled back on anti-discrimination policies while cutting federal funding that supports LGBTQ+ healthcare, including HIV treatment.
Why We Must Stop the Denationalization of LGBTQ+ People
Trump’s discriminatory policies not only affect the civil rights of trans and homosexual groups but of every single minority. This undermines a foundational principle of American democracy—equal protection under the law. And if the rights of one are threatened, the rights of everyone are threatened.
Additionally, without legal protections, LGBTQ+ people will face more harassment, discrimination, and denial of basic services. This creates a hostile environment not just for LGBTQ+ people but for their families, friends, and allies.
Ultimately, the denationalization of LGBTQ+ people spits in the face of American values of equality, liberty, individualism, and the pursuit of happiness. The implications of Trump’s policies extend far beyond the LGBTQ+ community and can have a profound and devastating impact on American society as a whole.
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