We Won't Be Stonewalled

By Babatunde Ayanfodun

As a community member and the Chief Diversity Officer at Corning Community College, I want to address the recent policies enacted by the Trump administration that directly undermine the rights and dignity of our transgender and LGBTQIA+ communities. These actions not only reverse decades of hard-won progress but also attempt to erase the very existence of individuals who have fought tirelessly for recognition and equality.

The Threat to LGBTQIA+ Rights

On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14168, titled "Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government." This order mandates a binary definition of sex, effectively negating the identities of transgender and non-binary individuals. Consequently, federal agencies have been directed to remove references to transgender identities from their materials, and policies supporting gender diversity are being rescinded. For instance, the National Park Service has erased mentions of transgender individuals from the Stonewall National Monument's website, a site that commemorates a pivotal moment in LGBTQIA+ history. (1) 

The administration's actions extend beyond “symbolic erasure”. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is moving to dismiss cases related to gender identity discrimination, citing the executive order's restrictive definition of sex. This shift leaves many without options in the face of workplace discrimination. (2)

These policies have profound and personal impacts. Mellow Suhay, a transgender teenager, faced the invalidation of her identity when applying for a passport. Due to the new policies, she was forced to list "male" on her application, contradicting her lived experience. Her mother, Lisa, expressed deep concern: "It's like the government is trying to tell my daughter she doesn't exist." (3)

The consequences of these policies are not limited to individuals; they spread across families, workplaces, and communities. By enforcing a narrow definition of gender, the administration is effectively trying to push transgender and non-binary individuals back into the shadows.

Honoring the Legacy of LGBTQIA+ Activism

Reflecting on the Stonewall Riots of 1969, a cornerstone of the LGBTQIA+ rights movement, it's evident that progress has always been hard-fought. Marsha P. Johnson, one of the activists at the heart of the Stonewall uprising, once said: "No pride for some of us without liberation for all of us."  Her words remind us that true equality cannot be achieved if we allow any part of our community to be erased. The current policies sharply differ from the spirit of Stonewall, threatening to undo the strides made.

Sylvia Rivera, a Puerto Rican-Venezuelan-American trans woman, co-founded Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) alongside Marsha P. Johnson. Their work was critical in supporting homeless and vulnerable transgender individuals. Sylvia Rivera, like Marsha, was a primary leader in the revolution that demanded recognition for LGBTQIA+ rights. She once said: "We have to do it because we can no longer stay invisible. We have to be visible. We should not be ashamed of who we are. We have to show the world that we are numerous. There are many of us out there."

This is a fight not just for recognition, but for safety. The recent tragic case of Sam Nordquist, a 24-year-old transgender man from Minnesota, is a glaring example of the dangers LGBTQIA+ individuals still face. Sam was subjected to prolonged physical and psychological abuse between December 2024 and February 2025 before being brutally murdered. His body was found on February 13, 2025, in a field near Canandaigua, right in our own backyard. Five individuals have been charged with second-degree murder and are currently detained without bail.

Sam’s death is not an isolated incident—it is a chilling reminder that violence against trans people is not just a statistic, but a reality that we must actively work against.

As someone who has witnessed the intersections of race, gender, and identity, I understand the pain of marginalization. These policies not only target the LGBTQIA+ community but also set a dangerous precedent for the breakdown of civil rights across various marginalized groups. It marks a reversal to times when discrimination was codified and accepted. (4)

In response, communities are mobilizing. Worcester, Massachusetts, recently declared itself a sanctuary city for transgender and gender-diverse individuals, standing in defiance of federal policies. The city council's resolution emphasizes a commitment to protect and support its LGBTQIA+ residents, showcasing the power of local action against broader injustices. (5)

It's important that we, as a society, recognize the humanity of our transgender and LGBTQIA+ family members, friends, colleagues, and neighbors. We must ask ourselves: How would we feel if our identities were invalidated? If our rights were stripped away? Empathy and solidarity are our strongest tools in combating these injustices.

What Can We Do as a College?

This is a defining moment in our history. Will we allow discrimination to be written into law once again? Or will we take action to protect our LGBTQIA+ students, faculty, and staff?

We must:

• Educate and advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights.

• Protect our trans and non-binary students.

• Ensure our campus is a safe, affirming space.

• Push back against state and federal policies that erase LGBTQIA+ identities.

What can you do today?

1. Email your state representatives and demand protections for trans rights.

2. Donate to LGBTQIA+ advocacy organizations.

3. Speak up when you see discrimination or misinformation.

4. Show up at the next LGBTQIA+ event on campus.

The Trump administration may try to silence us, but we will not be erased.

Let us honor the legacy of those who fought before us by standing firm against policies that seek to erase and oppress. Together, we can ensure that progress continues and that every individual is afforded the dignity and respect they deserve.

We won’t be stonewalled.

Sources:

1. “Transgender references removed from Stonewall National Monument website, (nypost.com)

2. “US civil rights agency seeks to dismiss gender-identity discrimination cases”, (theguardian.com)

3. “The US stopped allowing passport gender marker changes. Here are some of the people affected”, (apnews.com)

4. “Five charged with trans man’s murder in New York after ‘repeated acts of torture”, (theguardian.com)

5. “Massachusetts city OKs sanctuary city status for transgender community”, (cbsnews.com)

6. “Second federal judge pauses Trump’s order against gender-affirming care for youth”, (apnews.com)

7. “Federal judge pauses President Trump’s order restricting gender-affirming care for trans youth”, (apnews.com)

8. “Trump to cut off funding for schools and universities with Covid vaccine mandates – as it happened’, (theguardian.com)

9. “Dating Apps Promise to Remain a Rare Haven Following Trump’s Executive Order”, (wired.com)

10. “The Implications of Trump’s Executive Order on Sex”, (time.com)