The National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence (NTF), comprised of national, state, tribal, territorial, and local organizations representing thousands of advocates and others working to end domestic violence and sexual assault, writes to express our outrage at this heartless, extremist attack by the Trump administration in their expressed intent to narrowly define gender as a “biological, immutable condition” within Title IX, according to a leaked memo obtained by the New York Times. Transgender people experience unconscionably high rates of sexual assault and domestic violence and attacks on their rights and this level of dehumanization only makes them more vulnerable to assault. Further, if this definition is introduced into regulations, it will not only harm millions of transgender people, but also many more, including making it easier to fire or harass anyone who is perceived to not conform to rigid gender stereotypes.
We affirm our commitment to transgender inclusive policies as core to our mission to end sexual and domestic violence and reiterate that narratives that peddle anti-trans policies as necessary for protecting women and children are simply false. Further, given the high rates of violence that transgender youth experience in this country, this administration efforts to void Title IX protections is especially concerning. This administration is making it more clear than ever that it is willing to disregard science, medicine, and the law in order to push its own dogma. NTF is fighting with and for the transgender community, and we will do everything we can to uphold and value the rights and safety of every transgender person, including advocating to ensure this memo does not go into effect. We are strong and resilient, and we will not give up.
Click here to read the National Consensus Statement of Anti-Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Organizations in Support of Full and Equal Access for the Transgender Community signed by over 300 domestic and sexual violence organizations across the country.
For more information, contact Terra Russell Slavin, Deputy Director of Policy and Community Building, Los Angeles LGBT Center (Tslavin@lalgbtcenter.org) or Emily Waters (ewaters@avp.org), Policy Consultant, National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs