2SLGBTQ+ community in Windsor, Ont., worries about rise in hatred in wake of Trump order
CBC
Anold Mulaisho was born intersex and wonders where they fit in, in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order for the United States to recognize only two sexes, male and female.
Trump, on his first day in office, ordered an end to a range of policies aimed at promoting racial equity and protecting rights for 2SLGBTQ+ people.
During his speech, Trump also said it is now "the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders: male and female."
The executive order requires the government to use the term "sex" rather than "gender," while mandating that identification documents issued by the government, including passports and visas, be based on what it described as "an individual's immutable biological classification as either male or female."
"This is quite ridiculous," said Mulaisho, the founder and managing director of Queer and Trans Migrant Advocacy Alliance of Windsor-Essex.
"What do you call me now? How do you perceive me to be? It's a human rights violation."
Mulaisho said this will elicit and legitimize hatred against the larger 2SLGBTQ+ community.
"What affects the U.S. eventually also affects us here in Canada," they said.
"There are so many problems going on right now in the world, let them focus on those that are actual problems instead of making sexuality, which is not a problem, a huge thing."
They said they are also receiving "quite a lot of calls from the U.S." where people are concerned for their safety.
In Windsor-Essex, Mulaisho said they are hearing growing concerns about potential increase of hatred and violence.
Akshat Virmani moved from India to Windsor to feel comfortable in her skin as a trans woman.
"In my high school, I was bullied a lot," Virmani said with tears in her eyes. "But there is hate and bigotry which is still prevailing in this society too.
"It is quite disgusting…The order will be causing even more division and more bigotry and hate."
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