It’s hard to not be completely overwhelmed, disgusted, and terrified by the news lately- particularly the executive orders issued by President 47. While we anticipated this would happen, it doesn’t make it any easier to comprehend.
Today, we want to lay out what an executive order actually is, and to remind you Trump’s rule is not absolute. An executive order is NOT legislation, and while they affect the federal government, Congress is able to pass legislation to make the order impossible to accomplish. His orders do not have the force of law at the state level.
Amongst the several Trump has issued since taking office, he signed an order which seeks to deny the existence of transgender people. His administration is doubling down on attacking LGBTQIA+ youth in our schools and preventing them from receiving basic decency and respect from teachers and school administrators. This act encourages the schools to identify transgender students, opening them up to bullying, persecution, and abuse from those who object to their identity.
IN RHODE ISLAND
This recent Executive Order does not overturn the Rhode Island Department of Education’s policy on protecting LGBTQIA+ youth in our schools.
However, it will surely embolden the anti-trans opposition we witnessed over the last 15 months at each district’s School Committee meetings.
And this is why our ongoing work with the Bodily Freedom Forever Index and Bodily Freedom Action League is so important to ensure gender and reproductive rights are safe and protected in our towns and cities.
Transgender people do exist, and have existed since the beginning of time in countless cultures across the world. No matter how inexcusable and harmful 47’s administration is to our bodily freedoms, we will not back down.
We have built a tight plan to do our work around community activation, education, and inclusion for all our styles of advocating for a more transparent government that identifies who is for and against bodily freedom for all Rhode Islanders. And people all over the country are asking to help because they like what we are doing and want to do it in their towns too.
While action takes many forms, if you are in a position to give, you would be giving us the most tools we could ask for right now to mobilize most carefully.
While change takes time, we can do this. We have to 😉
