This week, multiple news outlets reported that the Trump Administration is considering narrowly defining gender as a biological, immutable condition determined by genitalia at birth, which will eliminate the rights of Transgender people. The plan from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) urges key government agencies to ignore modern science, medicine, and the law. This is a direct attack on the civil and human rights of millions of Americans in the Transgender and gender non-conforming community.
The National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) is committed to using an intersectional outreach in its policy work. This encompasses a deliberate and genuine fight for the fundamental rights of our members, which include members of the Trans community. It is well known that Transgender individuals have full rights and protections established years ago through multiple courts. This Administration has continuously tried to dismantle the rights of many in this country and this is another attack that we will not tolerate. A reversal of the civil rights of this community will do nothing but cause more harm and produce poorer health outcomes.
We believe that Trans people have the right to live safely in the community, have self-determination, and be included in every aspect of life. NCIL demands that the Administration reverse this direct and biased attack on the Transgender and gender non-conforming community. We stand with the broad coalition of civil and human rights organizations opposing and pushing back against these plans.
The National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) is the longest-running national, cross-disability, grassroots organization run by and for people with disabilities. Founded in 1982, NCIL represents thousands of organizations and individuals including: individuals with disabilities, Centers for Independent Living (CILs), Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs), and other organizations that advocate for the human and civil rights of people with disabilities throughout the United States. There are currently over 700 physical locations across America actively providing Independent Living services to people with disabilities.
