In a recent anti-trans ad blitz, Donald Trump and Senate Republicans have invested more than $65 million in anti-trans television ads airing in swing states. Additionally, In just the past three weeks Trump’s campaign kicked more than $15 million into anti-trans ads specifically targeting Vice President Kamala Harris and her support for gender-affirming care.
According to NBC News, the ads are running during breaks from college and professional football games as well as baseball playoffs games, and are often punctuated by the tag line “Kamala is for they/them; President Trump is for you.”
During his presidential debate with Harris and at various campaign rallies, Trump has falsely claimed kids were going to school and receiving gender-affirming surgeries before coming home, and that incarcerated people were receiving surgeries in prisons.
Them has predicted that Trump may be responding to a statement that Harris made in response to a 2019 survey writing “I support policies ensuring that federal prisoners and detainees are able to obtain medically necessary care for gender transition, including surgical care, while incarcerated or detained. Transition treatment is a medical necessity, and I will direct all federal agencies responsible for providing essential medical care to deliver transition treatment.”
NBC reports the Trump campaign’s website posted a video in 2023 ensuring that should they take office, the Trump administration would push legislation to change current Title IX policy to disqualify trans people from competing in women’s sports and contests.
Meanwhile, state legislators around the country continue to rail against trans rights, pushing laws censoring LGBTQ+ topics, preventing trans people from using public restrooms, and shoving trans athletes out of competitive sports events.
There have been brief moments of respite when judges have blocked gender-affirming care bans, or pushed back on unconstitutional laws proposed by conservatives. Additionally, some more progressive states and companies have declared themselves safe havens for trans Americans, supporting the ability to access healthcare.
What’s more the GOP’s plan to implement policies and initiatives from Project 2025, further threaten the safety of the country’s trans and larger LGBTQ+ communities.
