As news of Donald Trump’s reelection spread across the nation Nov. 5, many in the LGBTQ community felt a familiar wave of anxiety and fear. It was a reminder of the policies and rhetoric from his previous term that were hostile to LGBTQ rights.

In the past, the Trump administration has opposed and overturned landmark LGBTQ and feminist political victories, such as overturning Roe v. Wade, opposing the Equality Act, banning transgender people from serving in the military, and his declaration of “war on gender insanity,” a direct attack on transgender and gender non-conforming people.

For many, the main concern now is gender-affirming healthcare and how it will be affected by an administration that has made clear it is not interested in supporting trans healthcare.

“It's incredibly disheartening to know that life-affirming care for our community is in danger,” Djesse Jackson, 24, said. “I'm now having to rush through my transition which was an already costly and arduous process.” 

Jackson, an engineering student who identifies as non-binary, is one of many transgender people who have had to expedite their transition out of fear that access to gender-affirming healthcare could soon be restricted.

For individuals like Jackson, the urgency is driven by life-affirming treatments, once relatively secure, that could soon be out of reach under Trump’s administration.

This concern that the administration will gut resources for trans individuals is compounded by fears of legislative efforts that may target queer rights on a federal and state level. Another fear of members of the queer community is possible attempts to remove marriage equality and employment protections. 

The prospect of losing these hard-fought rights is mentally tolling for many in the LGBTQ community. 

In light of the election of a president clearly opposed to human rights for some, the CSU LGBTQ community is building a message board urging members to hold their heads high and continue the fight.

“It was very heartwarming to see people who frequent LGBTQ+ student services stand by each other and support each other in this weird time,” said one student who chose to be anonymous for their safety. “It's very easy to feed into fear during times like these so it's vital that we support each other.”

LGBTQ activists have been stepping up to educate both LGBTQ individuals and allies on how to prepare for these potential policy changes. According to a recent article from the Buckeye Flame, across the country nearly 100 LGBTQ organizations, including TransOhio and Equality Ohio, signed a letter vowing to advance queer rights.

Despite the challenges ahead, the response from the LGBTQ community—both at CSU and across the nation—has been one of resilience and determination. Activists and organizations continue to rally for change, emphasizing the importance of unity and grassroots efforts to safeguard queer rights. These efforts serve as a reminder that even in uncertain times, the strength of the LGBTQ community lies in its unwavering solidarity and commitment to progress.

** Kaina K is a pseudonym to protect the identity of the author.