Colin Stewart is a 45-year journalism veteran living in SouthernâŚ
Ramping up its anti-transgender campaign targeting U.S. citizens, the Trump administration has ordered U.S. embassies to issue reports on nations that allow gender-affirming medical care for minors, which Trump loyalists categorize as a human rights abuse.
The Council for Global Equality reported last month, âAs expected, they are removing the section of the [U.S. State Departmentâs annual human rights] report that covers abuses against LGBTQI+ persons. But even more alarming, they are now requiring reporting on transgender medical care as a human rights abuse involving the âchemical or surgical mutilation of childrenâ. â
In short, CGE said, âthe reports are no longer even vaguely credible on LGBTQI+ issues and are now creating an anti-rights framework to legitimize attacks against our communities.â
Because of the changes, CGE warned human rights groups to be wary of reporting abuses to U.S. embassies.
âCGE fears that the continued submission of information to U.S. embassies could create risks for the community itself,â the organization said.
âFor refugee and asylum adjudication purposes only, there may be ways to submit relevant information on extrajudicial executions, torture, or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment of LGBTQI+ persons, but please reach out to us (info@globalequality.org) or refugee groups directly to discuss how best to present and submit that information so that it is not cited inappropriately,â CGE said.
âAt the same time, we want to encourage all human rights groups to continue to document and share information widely on abuses targeting LGBTQI+ persons â that information is more important than ever given the current backlash. Many of you already have robust dissemination networks for your data, including other embassies and the European Union, but please feel free to reach out to discuss how to ensure your documentation reaches the broadest possible audience.
âAnd please note that the following CGE member organizations and allied human rights groups regularly compile human rights reports that document violations against LGBTQI+ people globally, which are often useful for policymakers in Washington and beyond: Amnesty International USA, Global Justice Institute, Human Rights First, Human Rights Watch, ILGA, Outright International, SynergĂa â Initiatives for Human Rights, and The Williams Institute. Please reach out to those groups directly or reach out to us to help make connections to share your documentation.â
Domestically, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has proposed blocking federal funding for any hospitals that provide gender-affirming care for minors.
Internationally, in addition to reporting on transgender medical care, the Trump administration has ordered embassies to report on âstate subsidization of abortions and the estimated number of abortions performed in a nation each yearâ, the Washington Post reported.
Also, extending its domestic campaign against initiatives that encourage DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion), the Trump administrationhas ordered embassies âto collect data on other governmentsâ affirmative action policies, spotlighting any that âprovide preferential treatmentâ to workers based on gender or race. â
Ramping up its anti-transgender campaign targeting U.S. citizens, the Trump administration has ordered U.S. embassies to issue reports on nations that allow gender-affirming medical care for minors, which Trump loyalists categorize as a human rights abuse.
The Council for Global Equality reported last month, âAs expected, they are removing the section of the [U.S. State Departmentâs annual human rights] report that covers abuses against LGBTQI+ persons. But even more alarming, they are now requiring reporting on transgender medical care as a human rights abuse involving the âchemical or surgical mutilation of childrenâ. â
In short, CGE said, âthe reports are no longer even vaguely credible on LGBTQI+ issues and are now creating an anti-rights framework to legitimize attacks against our communities.â
Because of the changes, CGE warned human rights groups to be wary of reporting abuses to U.S. embassies.
âCGE fears that the continued submission of information to U.S. embassies could create risks for the community itself,â the organization said.
âFor refugee and asylum adjudication purposes only, there may be ways to submit relevant information on extrajudicial executions, torture, or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment of LGBTQI+ persons, but please reach out to us (info@globalequality.org) or refugee groups directly to discuss how best to present and submit that information so that it is not cited inappropriately,â CGE said.
âAt the same time, we want to encourage all human rights groups to continue to document and share information widely on abuses targeting LGBTQI+ persons â that information is more important than ever given the current backlash. Many of you already have robust dissemination networks for your data, including other embassies and the European Union, but please feel free to reach out to discuss how to ensure your documentation reaches the broadest possible audience.
âAnd please note that the following CGE member organizations and allied human rights groups regularly compile human rights reports that document violations against LGBTQI+ people globally, which are often useful for policymakers in Washington and beyond: Amnesty International USA, Global Justice Institute, Human Rights First, Human Rights Watch, ILGA, Outright International, SynergĂa â Initiatives for Human Rights, and The Williams Institute. Please reach out to those groups directly or reach out to us to help make connections to share your documentation.â
Domestically, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has proposed blocking federal funding for any hospitals that provide gender-affirming care for minors.
Internationally, in addition to reporting on transgender medical care, the Trump administration has ordered embassies to report on âstate subsidization of abortions and the estimated number of abortions performed in a nation each yearâ, the Washington Post reported.
Also, extending its domestic campaign against initiatives that encourage DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion), the Trump administrationhas ordered embassies âto collect data on other governmentsâ affirmative action policies, spotlighting any that âprovide preferential treatmentâ to workers based on gender or race. â