In the wake of President Donald Trump’s second inaugural address, where he declared that “there are only two genders: male and female,” much of the nation finds itself divided. As Trump moves forward with executive actions targeting transgender and nonbinary communities — restricting military enlistment, limiting access to gender-affirming care and hormones, banning the participation of transgender women in women’s sports and changing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies — voices of protest and resistance have risen across the country.

Some Americans are challenging the policies they see as harmful. Others are finding strength in community, and many, like high school students at Archer, are struggling to navigate a world that feels increasingly hostile.

Various transgender public figures have begun using social media as a platform for their activism. “Euphoria” actress Hunter Schafer took to TikTok Feb. 21 to voice her feelings after her passport gender marker was changed when she renewed her documents. Transgender athlete Cecé Telfer spoke out against Trump’s executive actions against transgender participation in sports, as her dreams of being a United States Olympic athlete are put on hold. Zaya Perysian, a transgender influencer, also spoke out on TikTok when her gender marker was changed from female to male. She is currently pursuing a lawsuit against the Trump administration with the ACLU.

Feb. 28 marked a “24-hour Economic Blackout,” where Americans were encouraged to refrain from purchasing gas and spending at large corporations, such as Amazon and Walmart. The grassroots protest symbolized opposition to anti-DEI policies and resistance against corporate greed, billionaires and their authority in the current government. Max Speck (‘26) is one of several transgender students at Archer. In the wake of the current political climate, he is looking for safe ways to oppose and fight against the Trump administration.

“My dad and I are … trying to resist in safer ways, like boycotting. We aren’t ordering from Amazon anymore, as convenient as it was, because it’s not worth it,” Speck said. “We’re trying not to shop at places that don’t support DEI.”

Speck plans to legally change his gender when he is older. One of his passports identifies him as male, but other documents do not correlate. Like Perysian and Schafer, he said that these inconsistencies raise concerns for him about the acceptance of his documents. In order to manage his fears and concerns, Speck said he has limited his consumption of news and social media over the past few months. He said it sometimes feels easier to ignore difficult news, but it is crucial to stay educated and aware, which is why he discusses and fact-checks current events with his family.

“I’ve been trying to shut it out,” Speck said. “But, that’s been hard because… I can’t really shut it out without having to shut out myself as well.”

The Gender Sexuality Alliance is a place where many LGBTQIA+ students and allies come together in support of one another. GSA board member Kayley McPherson (‘26) said GSA is opening its doors to anyone who needs a safe space to process current events. For example, GSA held a council meeting the week after the election for students to voice their concerns and frustrations in a space where fellow students would understand and empathize with their fears.

“GSA is really trying to open its doors to all students during a time when things feel uncertain,” McPherson said. “As board members, we always accept everyone for who they are and are available to talk whenever students need.”

Stella Leland (‘26) is another member of GSA with growing concerns about Trump’s anti-DEI policies. According to the Washington Post, 25% of Americans said they personally benefit from DEI initiatives. Leland said they feel grateful living in California, as the state is majority Democratic, and they hope that California-specific DEI policies remain unchanged. However, California Governor Gavin Newsom recently remarked that transgender participation in sports is “deeply unfair.” Leland wants Trump supporters and opponents alike to recognize that these policies do not only affect the transgender community.

“It’s not just trans people, it’s not just people of color. It’s, for example, all women. Title IX is included in DEI policy,” Leland said. “I think a lot of people don’t realize how wide of a spectrum these policies cover, and how much any person could be affected by them.”

Though Leland and Speck said they’re concerned for the basic rights of the transgender community, the lasting legacy of the transgender community in the United States provides comfort for them both. They both emphasized that legal recognition does not negate social recognition, and the history of LGBTQIA+ individuals will always remain, even in the face of uncertainty.

“You can’t make our people invisible because they’ve always been here, even if they’ve been oppressed or hidden or not directly addressed, they’ve always been here and they’re going to continue to be here …” Leland said. “It’s comforting to know that no matter how we are legally regarded, the actual humans who are going through these events will always exist. There will always be personal stories, and you can’t erase those.”

This story was originally published on The Oracle on March 17, 2025.