Deputy Wesan speaks truth to power! President Trump's policies pose a threat to transgender rights. Transgender and queer rights have been under explicit attack by the Trump administration. This has created fear, not only in the US, but also globally. Queer Free City writers warn of a Trump effect, where the systematic discrimination against transgender people is spreading and threatening the rights of minorities around the world.
In the US, we are seeing a frightening trend where transgender rights are being systematically removed from the public sphere. From military bans to the curtailment of health rights and legal recognition, these policies aim to erase trans people from society. This is unsettling, not only for those living in the US, but also for queer and trans people around the world who see how such policies can spread.
We have sacrificed everything for our rights, for freedom of speech, and to preserve the memory of those who went before us. That's why I reject the narrative and approach promoted by Trump, X and Meta
For many members of Queer World, this fear is very real. They have experienced what it is like to be persecuted, discriminated against and deprived of basic rights because of their gender identity or sexual orientation. Many have fled countries where they couldn't live openly as who they are, and now watch with alarm as one of the world's most powerful countries actively moves in the opposite direction of gender equality and human rights.
When a world leader legitimises discrimination against a minority, it sends signals far beyond national borders. Hate crimes against queer people have increased in the US, and many fear that this development will inspire other countries to follow suit. We are already seeing transphobic rhetoric being used as a political tool in several countries, creating a toxic atmosphere where queer people experience increased violence, harassment and discrimination.
Now, more than ever, we must stand together to protect the rights of transgender and queer people around the world.
This concern was also emphasised by the deputy chairman of Queer World, Wesam Almadani, who recently made a strong appeal at Norwegian PEN. In his speech, he highlighted how the systematic discrimination of transgender people is not just a political strategy, but a targeted effort to erase an entire group of people from the public eye. He warned of the dangers of normalising discrimination and called for united resistance to this development. Almadani emphasised that now, more than ever, we must stand together to protect the rights of transgender and queer people around the world.
The deputy political director of Queer World emphasises that we are at a crucial time where we must continue the fight for the right to exist. We are fighting for those who came before us, for those who are fighting now, and for future generations. Minority rights are fundamental to democracy, and we refuse to let discrimination and hatred win.
