Sarah McBride Highlights Major Issue in Executive Order: 'Everyone Declared Female'

United States Representative Sarah McBride has raised significant concerns over a recent executive order issued by President Donald Trump, specifically targeting a measure that seemingly undermines transgender rights by officially recognising strictly two sexes.

Upon assuming office, President Trump enacted a series of executive orders. Among these, one particular order asserts that the United States government will henceforth acknowledge "only two genders, male and female" on all government-issued identification documents.

Delving into more detail, the order outlines that an individual identified as female is "a person belonging, at conception, to the sex that produces the large reproductive cell." Conversely, a male is specified as "a person belonging, at conception, to the sex that produces the small reproductive cell."

However, a fundamental biological understanding reveals that all human embryos initially embark on a "female" developmental track. This continues until the activation of the SRY gene, which plays a crucial role in sexual differentiation several weeks following conception.

With an XY genotype, embryos begin to develop biologically male characteristics associated with the Y chromosome at approximately six weeks. Prior to this point, human embryos exclusively exhibit biologically female traits that are linked to the X chromosome. Indeed, as noted by the National Library of Medicine, genitalia at conception are "phenotypically female."

This observation led Sarah McBride, who notably serves as the first openly transgender congresswoman, to humorously remark to The Independent that President Trump’s executive order effectively "declared everyone a woman from conception," given the specific wording used.

In his inaugural address on Monday, January 20th, President Trump reiterated the belief in only two genders: "male and female." He pledged to put an end to "the government policy of attempting to socially engineer race and gender into every facet of public and private life."

Additional Executive Orders

Beyond the gender-specific mandate, the series of executive orders introduced by President Trump also included significant actions such as the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, efforts to terminate birthright citizenship—which guarantees citizenship to anyone born on US soil—, withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization, and granting pardons to individuals convicted in relation to events occurring on January 6, 2021.

These orders have sparked widespread debate and controversy, particularly among advocacy groups and those championing LGBTQ+ rights. Many argue that these policies undermine years of progress towards equality and inclusivity.

For individuals affected by these developments, support is available through resources such as the LGBT National Help Centre. The centre can be reached at 888-843-4564, with hours from Monday to Friday between 1 pm-9 pm Pacific Time or 4 pm-Midnight Eastern Time, and on Saturdays from 9 am-2 pm Pacific Time or Noon-5 pm Eastern Time.