How Trump’s Anti Trans Laws Have Impacted Trinity Students

Bella Chirkis ’27

Executive News Editor

Under the Trump administration, the U.S. has faced a multitude of political attacks directed towards transgender people. Some being by Trump only recognizing two genders, not allowing transgender people to participate in sports and preventing gender affirming medical procedures. Transgender students at Trinity have been heavily impacted on the subject, and are speaking out with words of advice to the LGBTQ+ community during these troubling times. 

In a conversation with Adrien Braun ’26 and Aaron Kowals ’25, the Tripod gained perspective on how Trump’s anti-trans laws have affected them both as Trinity students. Braun started out the conversation by saying, “I acknowledge my privilege as a white, able-bodied person. I also have a wonderful accepting family and support system, who I am very grateful for in these incredibly scary times. I know my position as a trans person is the least vulnerable. Trans women of color are the most at risk for violence and discrimination.” Both interviewees personally know transgender people who have had their gender marker changed to an X on their passport, an issue that was brought to social media by Hunter Schafer who is an American actress on HBO’s “Euphoria”.

While discussing how being transgender has impacted both students at Trinity, Braun said, “I am proud to say I, personally, have never been a victim of transphobia on the Trinity campus. The most I’ve gotten was a strange look or two in the bathroom… I know what it feels like to have a target on my back. Being public about my trans identity without a guaranteed safety net, some might say, is an act of bravery.” Kowals states that Connecticut is a safe haven for transgender people as a blue state, but “my passport is going to be an issue; I am nervous for when I start medically transitioning. I will have a full beard and worry about the passport and fraud.” Kowals explained how when in medical care, other people’s opinions, specifically the opinions of medical staff or doctors, can affect how he is treated medically, “I don’t really identify my trans identity because I don’t know the bias of the person taking care of me in that moment.” Transgender people have to be cautious of who they are, because of the extent discrimination that they receive. 

Trump has prevented transgender people from participating in sports. Out of 510,000 collegiate athletes, fewer than 10 identify as transgender. Kowals reflected on sports in general, he says, “in sports, there always have been advantages, whether that be biological or financial.” Braun discussed the reasoning and the statistics over why the right wing has such an opinion on transgender people participating in sports. Braun said, “the right is way more obsessed with policing trans people, specifically trans minors, than to do anything actually good for the American people. And when you really look at the statistics, trans people do not pose any threat to cis people.” https://www.teenvogue.com/story/study-confirms-transgender-people-not-threat-to-cisgender-people-bathrooms

When asked about how Trinity students and society in general can help transgender people as well as the LGBTQ+ community through these troubling times, both students gave similar advice. Kowals said, “Very simple things, in terms of everyday things: putting your pronouns in your bio, having access to gender neutral toilets, which are very surface level but important things. Looking into what you can on the legislative level to impact those federal bans.” Braun reflected on how he came out as trans when he was 14 years old, and gave advice to the LGBTQ+ community. Braun said, “I’ve seen people in my life who I would never think in a million years would accept me, use my correct name and pronouns and fight by my side. My advice to you: find your community, no matter how big or small. You do not have to be a ‘good trans person’ to be loved and accepted. And do not let anyone or anything compromise your identity, your joy, your power.” In final words from Kowals, some more advice to the LGBTQ+ community: “If you have a supportive family lean on them. But if you don’t, our community is your family, and I wouldn’t change that for the world.”