By Ayo Kehinde
U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order declaring that gender is defined strictly by biological sex, effectively excluding the recognition of transgender identities in official government policy.
In the order, Trump affirmed that his administration would adhere to what he described as “clear and accurate language.”
“My administration will defend women’s rights and protect freedom of conscience by using clear and accurate language and policies that recognise women are biologically female, and men are biologically male. It is the policy of the United States to recognise two sexes – male and female. These sexes are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality,” the statement read.
The directive mandates federal agencies to classify gender exclusively as male or female in official documents, including passports and visas.
The order criticised what it called “gender ideology extremism,” claiming that the erasure of biological sex in policies undermines the rights of women and the integrity of American institutions.
“The erasure of sex in language and policy has a corrosive impact not just on women but on the validity of the entire American system,” it stated.
Trump had signaled during his campaign a hardline stance against the rights of transgender individuals, often referring to what he called “transgender lunacy” and “child sexual mutilation.”
His campaign made frequent mentions of restricting the participation of transgender women in women’s sports, a topic he leveraged heavily in rallies to appeal to conservative voters.
Transgender people, commonly referred to as trans individuals, are those whose gender identity does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth.
Critics and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups have strongly condemned the executive order, describing it as discriminatory and harmful to transgender rights.
However, Trump and his supporters argue that the measure is aimed at preserving what they call “biological integrity” in public policy and protecting women’s rights in areas like sports and education.
The controversial order has further polarized public opinion in the U.S., with debates over the rights of transgender individuals versus policies grounded in biological definitions of sex continuing to spark national conversations.
