New York’s Staten Island — In response to President Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting transgender individuals, Karyn Bello, a resident of Prince’s Bay, has gotten a lot of texts from anxious parents since January 20.

They want to know what will happen to my child. Will they be taken into custody? Bello, whose daughter is transsexual, said.

No, I tell them. Let’s avoid talking about fear. Let’s wait and see how things work out. Let’s attempt to be optimistic. Bello, who leads a support group called Families in Transition at the Pride Center on Staten Island, added, “Our trans loved ones will naturally be terrified if the people who support them are afraid.”

At the Pride Center of Staten Island, Karyn Bello leads a support group called Families in Transition (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel).

Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government was one of the first executive orders that Trump signed on the first day of the administration. The measure declares that males are biologically male and women are physiologically female, forbids the propagation of gender ideology, and acknowledges only two sexes. Additionally, it asserts that these sexes are based on fundamental and unquestionable reality and cannot be altered.

According to Nate Shalev, a transgender person and former Bulls Head inhabitant, the goal is to eradicate trans people by definition, so you can’t have any kind of federal recognition. Currently residing in Brooklyn, the proprietor of Reveal Impact is an inclusiveness expert, advisor, and speaker.

Accordingly, a person who has transitioned and wishes to get their license modified is unable to do so. Passports, licenses, birth certificates, and other legal documents that someone would need to update are now impossible to do so,” Shalev continued.

Additionally, the executive order mandates that only men and women be recognized on official identity forms by all federal personnel and agencies. As a result, anyone whose gender on a passport, visa, or Global Entry card is X must have it changed to either male or female, or else they run the risk of being denied entry and exit to the nation.

Nate Shalev, a transgender person who was designated female at birth, used to live in Bulls Head but now lives in Brooklyn. They own their own business and are a speaker, advisor, and authority on inclusivity. Jason Paderon/Staten Island AdvancePaderon, Jason

Additionally, the executive order prohibits the use of federal funds to advance gender ideology, which it claims replaces the biological category of sex with a constantly evolving concept of self-assessed gender identity. This allows the false claim that men can identify as women and vice versa, and all institutions of society are required to accept this false claim as fact.

Contrary to recent court rulings, the order also prohibits the Bureau of Prisons from providing trans detainees with transition-related medical care. Trump has also signed other later orders that target transgender persons, such as one that prohibits gender-affirming medical treatments for those under the age of 19.

These executive orders are criticized for being a direct assault on intersex, transgender, and non-binary individuals.

In reference to the gender-neutral pronoun, Bello, who owns her own clothing line called Zhe by Karyn Elizabeth, stated, “I don’t want to diminish the fact that it’s understandable and completely OK to have those kinds of emotions, but it’s so much more important to give (transgender loved ones) the power to know they’re going to be OK, because we have their back.” Technology in the clothing line is designed to fit the bodies of transsexual women.

Karyn Bello at her Bloomingdale studio. (Jan Somma-Hammel/Staten Island Advance)

Support is available

For anyone in need of support right now, the Pride Center of Staten Island offers a variety of alternatives in addition to the group that Bello runs.

According to Carol Bullock, executive director of the Pride Center of Staten Island, numerous executive orders have been and are still being signed that target LGBTQIA+ individuals and other oppressed communities.

These executive orders specifically target LGBTQIA+ populations, including adolescents, families, transgender persons, and nonbinary people. Millions of individuals are becoming vulnerable as a result of these executive orders, which are threatening their rights, taking away their protections, and violating their safety. Anyone in need of information or tools to help them get through this time can get it at the Pride Center of Staten Island. Adversity is nothing new to us, but we must never forget to stick together in the pursuit of equality and protection for all.

On January 31, 2024, a rally for transgender rights is held at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kansas, attended by high school students, family members, and activists. (John Hanna, File/AP Photo)AP

What impact will these orders have on inclusivity in the workplace, schools?

Shalev, who teaches professionals how to create an inclusive workplace for a variety of businesses, including technology companies and real estate agencies, claimed that Trump’s policies target trans women in bathrooms and sports and erode LGBTQ+ protections, such as anti-bullying and workplace policies.

According to Shalev, the executive order indicates that there is no way to fire someone because of their gender identity or sexual orientation. Sexism is still protected, but there are no longer any safeguards against being fired for being transgender or nonbinary.

The most alarming aspect, according to Shalev, is that no concerted attempt is being made to oppose these discriminatory directives.

Even though these attacks have been occurring for years, they claimed it is frightening to have them documented and then to experience such a windfall with little to no actual opposition.

Why isn’t there more concern about what’s going on? Consequently, there is a sense of desolation. It has no structured national response. “I am aware that the American Civil Liberties Union [ACLU] is already taking certain actions, but I don’t feel like there is a wave of protest or anything,” Shalev continued.

They stated that trans adolescents are one of their main worries.

“I’m very worried about children, especially those in states with no protections,” Shalev added. For anyone attempting to navigate and become human in the world, growing up is really difficult. It is extremely harmful to know this about oneself and be unable to change it, such as by not being able to play sports, get gender-affirming care, or feel good about oneself in public. The ability of trans children to survive this is my biggest concern.

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