UMD community members brace for impacts of Trump orders on LGBTQ+ community

U.S. President Donald Trump’s multiple executive orders targeting the LGBTQ+ community have created uncertainty for college students across the nation, including at the University of Maryland.

Some executive orders called for the restriction of access to gender-affirming health care and the elimination of federal diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

University president Darryll Pines told The Diamondback on Feb. 21 that Trump’s executive orders will have no relative changes to diversity, equity and inclusion or the LGBTQ+ community on campus.

“We want our community to feel like they can reach their full potential and that they belong at University of Maryland and can succeed,” Pines said.

This university follows national law above executive orders, Pines said. University administration is monitoring Trump’s actions and informing community members whether changes are necessary, according to Pines.

Sophomore computer science major June Cagan, a trans student at this university, said she was horrified by Trump’s actions aimed at the trans community.

Trump passed another executive order on Feb. 5 that resulted in the National Collegiate Athletic Association banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports. Another executive order declares the federal government will only recognize two unchangeable sexes, male and female.

“It’s very scary to see this stuff be passed by the president,” Cagan said.

Cagan said she has received gender-affirming supplies such as tucking underwear from the LGBTQ+ Equity Center on campus. She fears funding cuts and other actions from Trump will result in these resources being taken away from students at this university.

Despite Maryland’s designation as a sanctuary state for transgender people, Cagan has experienced discrimination from students. During a class where she serves as a teaching assistant, a student asked her if she was transgender, and when Cagan said she was, the student left class.

“Before the current administration, I never would have imagined something like that would happen,” Cagan said.

Another executive order passed by Trump on Jan. 28 said the U.S. will prohibit and limit gender-affirming care on people younger than 19, which includes puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgeries.

But a federal judge blocked the order Tuesday after Washington, Colorado, Minnesota and Oregon successfully sued to stop the order in their respective states, The Washington Post reported.

Sophomore public policy and American studies major Mace Viemeister said Trump’s orders could have devastating effects on transgender children — who experience higher average suicide rates than their peers — and hurt the LGBTQ+ community.

“This gender affirming care is life saving,” they said.

Viemeister hopes the university will continue to protect students in the LGBTQ+ community. Those students should not be complacent if the university fails to protect them, they said.

“The diversity of our student population is so important and I think the university should be proud of it, and should be advocating on our behalf,” Viemeister said.

Cagan and Viemeister both said they had not received any emails from this university regarding LGBTQ+ students after Trump’s actions.

“During these uncertain times, we are continuing to focus on support systems, resources, and programs that uplift our entire campus through efforts to sustain and support LGBTQ+ colleagues, peers, and friends,” the LGBTQ+ equity center wrote in a statement to The Diamondback on Tuesday.

Pines said he has communicated to this university’s colleges and deans about the impacts of executive orders.

Stephanie Shonekan, the arts and humanities college dean, said these orders would not impact how the college treats students in the LGBTQ+ community.

“My job as the dean of the college of arts and humanities is to ensure that we stay true to our values as a university and as a college, and that means that we are focusing on listening to, being very attentive to the particular ways in which our students are feeling,” Shonekan said.

Shonekan emphasized that community members in the college should feel comfortable speaking with her about any concerns regarding Trump’s actions.

“We care deeply about our community and understand that there is uncertainty about the impact of changes in the federal landscape,” this university wrote in a statement to The Diamondback on Feb. 20.

As federal changes continue impacting students, this university will provide resources to community members that promote its shared values, the statement read.