Five actions trans people can take before Trump’s Inauguration

As uncertainties loom over potential changes to federal policies centered around the trans community under a new administration, it’s essential for trans individuals to act proactively. Kentucky Health Justice Network Trans Health Director Oliver Hall along with Queer Kentucky have compiled a small collection of action items trans people can take before the Trump presidency begins.

Getting your passport renewed / updated.

Trump has indicated that he wants there to only be two options for legal sex on federal documentation and that sex will be whatever your sex assigned at birth is. While we don’t know what the specifics of that policy might look like we can anticipate it will eliminate the “X” option for passports and at least make it harder for all trans people to update our sex/gender markers on federal documentation.

Fairness has passport navigators helping people through this process and they are covering the cost of getting / renewing a passport for trans Kentuckians: https://www.fairness.org/support

Check out A4TE’s Trans Legal Survival Guide.

It has important information regarding any other kind of legal planning (social security card, name changes, etc.) necessary regarding the new administration and is more helpful than us relisting all of them here.

Stockpile Gender-Affirming Medications

With potential disruptions to gender-affirming care under the Trump administration, many are proactively building medication reserves. Strategies include underdosing, obtaining extra prescriptions through supportive physicians, or exploring online sources, though these carry legal and personal risks. One individual extended the use of estradiol vials, while another underdosed to justify larger prescriptions, creating backup supplies. As access faces uncertainty, these efforts highlight the importance of planning, community support, and connecting with knowledgeable healthcare providers.

Resist the urge to isolate.

Trans people have relied on each other to access gender-affirming care since long before we had traditional pathways to do so and relying on each other is how we’ll continue to keep ourselves safe. Our status with the government is up to the whims of people who will never hold us the way we hold each other. Now is the time to lean into community. Go to support groups / meet-ups and get involved in planning community events.

The tab of our resource portal has a list of community organizations and support groups to connect with.

Connect with our history.

Again trans people have survived conditions less ideal than those that might be on the horizon. The Digital Transgender Archive has a wealth of trans history to take in. I particularly enjoy reading through letters between trans people helping each other figure out how to access care. It feels very similar to how we still need to support each other now and serves as a reminder that the state has never gotten us what we need, we have.  https://www.digitaltransgenderarchive.net/