How Trump-Era Policies and State Legislation Are Harming LGBTQ+ Americans
In the United States today, LGBTQ+ people—especially transgender individuals—face mounting hostility driven by renewed political attacks, discriminatory laws, and rising violence. With Donald Trump back in power and Republicans emboldened at the state level, 2025 marks a turning point for civil rights, and not for the better.
A recent Pew Research Center report (Feb. 2025) found that a staggering 81% of LGBTQ adults expect Trump’s policies to harm gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. Among transgender respondents, 88% expect negative effects. These fears are grounded in experience: during his first term, Trump rolled back protections for trans students, banned transgender people from military service, and allowed discrimination under the guise of religious freedom. In his second term, the pace and intensity have only increased.
A separate May 2025 Pew study found that only 13% of LGBTQ Americans believe there is widespread acceptance for transgender people. More than half said there is little or no acceptance for trans individuals, numbers that sharply contrast with broader public perceptions about LGBTQ progress. Behind the pride flags and corporate logos, the reality for many queer Americans is fear and exclusion.
Florida, under Governor Ron DeSantis, has been ground zero for these assaults. A sweeping series of laws passed in 2023 and 2024 ban gender-affirming care for minors, restrict adults’ access to care, limit pronoun usage in schools, and force transgender people to use restrooms based on their assigned sex at birth in government buildings. These so-called “protections” are couched in parental rights and public safety rhetoric, but their intent and effect are unmistakably cruel: to erase trans identities from public life.
The consequences are real and measurable. According to GLAAD, 2024 saw over 447 reported violent incidents targeting transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals—a record number that reflects both increased hatred and underreporting in past years. Nearly half of all anti-LGBTQ hate crimes in 2024 involved trans or nonbinary people. In many cases, this violence is emboldened by public figures and policies that dehumanize queer people, portraying them as threats rather than citizens deserving of dignity and protection.
Healthcare has become a battlefield as well. The ban on gender-affirming care in Florida and efforts to defund similar care at the federal level have left many transgender people without access to medically necessary treatment. A 2024 study by the Center for American Progress found that over 60% of trans respondents had delayed or foregone care due to fear of discrimination or legal consequences. In states with bans, that number was even higher.
School policies are another area of concern. From book bans targeting LGBTQ content to “Don’t Say Gay” laws chilling discussion of identity, young queer people are being told they don’t belong. Mental health experts have raised alarms about rising anxiety, depression, and suicide risk among LGBTQ youth. The Trevor Project reported that 45% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered suicide in the past year, with rates even higher among trans and nonbinary youth.
While some communities, including parts of the Black and Latino populations, express growing support for LGBTQ rights, these hopeful signs do not offset the coordinated, well-funded campaigns to roll back protections. The Republican Party has increasingly used LGBTQ rights, and especially trans visibility, as a wedge issue. From cable news to campaign rallies, the message is consistent: queer people are “other,” and they must be controlled.
But history shows that backlash often follows progress. The resilience of LGBTQ Americans, their allies, and civil rights organizations remains strong. Advocacy continues in courtrooms, legislatures, churches, and streets despite the storm.
The question for the nation is clear: Will we allow fear and hatred to define this era, or will we choose courage, compassion, and justice for all?
