5 Alarming Ways Trump Policies Harm LGBTQ+ People (and What You Can Do)
History is repeating itself, but this time we can see it coming — and take action
You might think the fight for LGBTQ+ rights has progressed. I used to think so, too. Then last week, everything changed in my therapy practice.
My clients — primarily gay men across different generations — weren’t discussing relationships or personal growth anymore — they were asking a darker question:
“Are we going back?”
On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed executive orders claiming to Defend Women from Gender Ideology Extremism.
While the title might sound noble, the reality is darker, especially for the LGBTQ+ community.
Here’s what most people miss:
These orders aren’t just about gender ideology — they’re using the same playbook that stripped gay rights, just with a different target.
If you’re part of the LGBTQ+ community or an ally for equality, you might feel a wave of unease and déjà vu.
Policies like these have surfaced before in history — that eroded rights, fueled fear, and divided societies under the guise of protection and morality.
This isn’t just about today; it’s about a troubling pattern we’ve seen before.
What’s unfolding now mirrors past tactics to suppress gay rights, wrapped in new language and aimed at new targets.
In this article, we’ll explore these policies, connect them to their historical parallels, and provide practical steps to defend yourself, your community, and the progress we’ve achieved.
Let’s break it down.
A Personal Perspective
As a licensed therapist and openly gay man, I remember the day during my internship when I first came out professionally.
During a therapy session with a gay man contemplating suicide because he had been hiding the fact that he contracted HIV out of fear of being discovered and judged.
His eyes lit up when I shared the journey of my friends with HIV who used to feel the same way and how they overcame their silence.
Despite our different experiences and health, it was the first time he met someone who didn’t judge him.
Last week, a colleague’s client, a trans woman we’ll call Sarah, broke down during her session. She’d spent years updating her documentation to match her identity, only to face the possibility of reversing it.
In my 10+ years working with LGBTQ+ clients, I’ve seen countless stories of people facing discriminatory policies.
But here’s the thing.
These aren’t just policy changes on paper — they’re personal attacks that affect real lives.
What I’m Seeing in My Therapy Practice
Imagine this:
💔 A gay executive who survived the AIDS crisis whispers to me, hands trembling: “It’s happening again, just like before.”
👨💼 On Zoom, a young professional stares in disbelief: “I thought we were past this,” he says. “I never imagined we’d go backward.”
❓ In session after session, one question keeps coming up: “How do we protect ourselves this time?”
These are just a few examples of my clients’ disbelief and anxiety.
The Hidden Danger Most People Miss
You might think: “This is just about transgender rights.”
That’s what they want you to believe.
But here’s the truth I’ve learned from decades of working with gay men:
They start with the most vulnerable. Then, they expand their reach. And before you know it, we’re all targets.
5 Terrifying Warning Signs I Notice Unfolding
🚨 1. Familiar Rights Rollbacks
A client in his 60s said something chilling in last week’s session:
First, they called AIDS a ‘gay disease.’ Now they’re calling this ‘transgender ideology.’ Same strategy, different target.
He’s right.
Here’s what we’re seeing:
Religious freedom laws expanding beyond gender to “lifestyle choices”
Marriage equality protections questioned as “states’ rights”
Partner benefits facing new “biological sex” restrictions
⚕️ 2. Healthcare Discrimination Is Back
Many of my older clients are having ’80s flashbacks:
Doctors asking about HIV status for routine checkups
Insurance companies adding “moral objection” clauses
Mental health providers must report “sexuality concerns” or label it as “ideology.”
Last month’s real example:
A client’s physical turned into an HIV lecture despite being there for a sprained ankle. True story.
Here’s what we might see again:
LGBTQ+ people being asked about HIV status for unrelated treatments
Couples facing discrimination at hospitals
Healthcare forms now requiring “birth sex”
🚽 3. Hostile Public Spaces
Gay men in my practice reported increased harassment, not just in bathrooms.
The reminder is:
Gym locker rooms becoming hostile zones, especially verbally.
Public pools implementing “biological sex” policies
Even coffee shops enforcing gender-specific spaces
“Family values” policies at public pools or parks targeting PD
Professionals avoiding workplace restrooms
👶 4. Youth Support Vanishing
Young gay clients describe a chilling anxiety for:
GSAs (Gay-Straight Alliances) banned as “inappropriate”
LGBTQ+ literature removed from libraries
Mental health counselors restricted from discussing identity
Increasing school bullying
A trend of teen clients returning to code words and secret social media accounts, like in the ‘90s.
💼 5. Professional Closets Reopening
Corporate America could change fast:
Federal contractors must enforce “biological sex.”
DEI programs labeled as “gender ideology”
Pride events canceled over funding threats and “political concerns.”
Promotions tied to “cultural fit”
Benefits for same-sex partners questioned or faced with new documentation requirements
Professional networks going underground
Warning sign: Three clients removed partner photos from their desks this month.
What Survivors of Discrimination and AIDS Want You to Know
Last week, a client told me something that changed everything:
During the AIDS crisis, we had to figure everything out from scratch. This time, we have a blueprint.
He’s right.
After decades of working with discriminated gay men, they’ve developed a precise “playbook” for self-protection.
What You Can Do Now
📝 1. Create Your Paper Trail (It Could Save Your Life)
Why this matters: The clients who kept records during the AIDS crisis won their battles.
Start doing these today:
Save all discriminatory emails, texts, or messages.
Log daily incidents in your Notes app.
Record names, dates, and exact quotes.
Store copies of ALL workplace communications.
Pro tip: One client won his discrimination case using just his iPhone notes!
🤝 2. Build Strategic Support Networks
Building a strong support network is crucial during these challenging times. Here’s what works for my clients:
2.1. Find Your Chosen Family
Join LGBTQ+ social groups on platforms like Meetup.com
Attend LGBTQ+ community center events (even virtually)
Connect with LGBTQ+ sports leagues and hobby groups
Join LGBTQ+ book clubs or discussion groups
2.2. Digital Communities
Join moderated Discord servers or social networks for LGBTQ+ individuals.
Follow and engage with LGBTQ+ content creators on social media.
Join online support groups on platforms like Reddit’s r/lgbt.
Use apps like Lex for platonic LGBTQ+ connections.
2.3. Organizational Support
Lambda Legal offers free legal advice and representation.
The Trevor Project provides crisis intervention and support.
National Center for Transgender Equality assists with documentation.
PFLAG connects families and allies with local support groups.
2.4. Workplace Connections
While DEI infrastructures at companies may be at risk due to Trump, consider joining or starting Employee Resource Groups (ERGs).
Connect with LGBTQ+ professionals through Out Professional Network.
Attend LGBTQ+ networking events.
Find mentors through Out in Tech or similar industry groups.
💼 3. Protect Your Career (Before You Need To)
Warning: Federal employees need these steps NOW.
Your Action Plan:
Building allies with supportive colleagues and supervisors (before you need them)
Understanding your workplace rights and documentation requirements
Connecting with LGBTQ+ professional organizations in your field
Creating backup career plans.
⚡ 4. Engage in Smart Activism
Forget performative allyship. Do these instead:
Supporting LGBTQ+ legal defense organizations
Joining professional associations advocating for our rights
Support pro-equality candidates and campaigns for LGBTQ+ equality.
Use your platform, like social media or community organizing, to raise awareness.
When safe, share personal stories to humanize the impact of these policies.
🧠 5. Prioritize Mental Health
My thriving clients do these religiously:
Establish regular check-ins with me (find LGBTQ+-friendly therapists who understand your challenges).
Building communities of people who understand their experiences
Practicing self-care and boundary-setting
This Time, We’re Ready
I’ll never forget what one of my first clients told me:
“The closet isn’t just a metaphor — it’s a strategy to make us invisible.”
Today, we refuse to be invisible.
They’re counting on our silence.
But this time, we know better.
We have the tools, knowledge, and, most importantly, each other.