Ariana Grande Signals Support For Trans Community After President Trump Issues ‘Two Sexes’ Executive Order
Following his inauguration, President Trump signed a flurry of immediate executive orders, one of which was to make it 'the policy of the United States to recognise two sexes, male and female,' thereby denying trans and non-binary identities and threatening associated legal protections. (The order explicitly stripped transgender people of protections within federal prisons.) 'Each agency and all Federal employees shall enforce laws governing sex-based rights, protections, opportunities, and accommodations to protect men and women as biologically distinct sexes,' the order — one of dozens signed yesterday — put forth, immediately sparking outcries in the LGBTQ+ community and beyond.
Among those circulating information and protest on social media was pop star and Wicked actor Ariana Grande, who reposted messaging on her Instagram stories from the non-profit organisation Advocates for Trans Equality. 'Today is a tough day for our community,' the statement began. 'The incoming administration campaigned on attacking trans people’s lives, healthcare, and dignity' — citing the millions spent by the Trump campaign on anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ+ television ads — 'and we’re bracing ourselves for what these extremists will try to do next. No matter what comes, we will protect each other. The incoming Trump administration, and the Project 2025 extremists who staff it, are reacting to decades of progress made by our LGBTQI+ community by trying to drag us backward. But we have fought even harder battles before — and won. We’ll do it again.'
Grande also re-posted a graphic from A Bit Fruity podcast host Matt Bernstein. In response to Trump’s inaugural address declaring 'there are only two genders: male and female,' Bernstein wrote, 'okay, sure, whatever you say. but let’s be very clear: queer and trans people were here before donald trump and will continue to be here after he’s dead. whether or not you want us to exist is secondary to the simple fact that we do. the sun does not care if you sign an executive order telling it to stop rising each morning. it just continues to rise.'
The eternal sunshine singer has been a vocal ally to the LGBTQ+ community for years now, having written in a 'love letter to the LGBTQ community,' published on Billboard in 2018, that 'there is nothing more infectious than the joy and love that the LGBTQ community exudes. I grew up with a gay brother whose every move I would emulate. I idolised him. Everything Frankie did, I would do. I can’t remember a difference between Frankie before he came out and Frankie after he came out. He’s always just been Frankie. Sexuality and gender were never topics my family and I were afraid to discuss.'
Grande continued, 'Love is like music. It knows no boundaries and isn’t exclusive to any one gender, sexuality, race, religion, age or creed. It’s a freedom and a delicious luxury that all people should be able to sink into and enjoy every moment of. I am eternally indebted to and inspired by the LGBTQ community. I hope to create anthems for you that wrap you up with comfort and make you get your best life for as long as I live. Thank you for celebrating me the way I celebrate you.'
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