In recent months, the United States has seen an influx of anti-queer legislation. House Bill 3817, proposed in the Texas House of Representatives, would criminalize identifying as transgender. Additionally, President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order proclaiming that the U.S. will only recognize two genders in an attempt to get rid of “transgender insanity.”
This legislation creates uneasiness among the queer community who feel the direct impact of these hateful narratives. Now more than ever, students must feel supported to express their identities without backlash.
Administration should enforce repercussions to students, faculty and staff who actively discriminate against members of the trans and queer community. The University has a responsibility to protect students from increasing discrimination and must empower students to engage in open dialogues concerning the fears they have about expressing themselves in gender-affirming ways.
Mariah “Mars” Adeeko is a writing and rhetoric senior and the communications director of QTBIPOCA, the Queer Trans BIPOC Agency, a student organization on campus that provides a safe space for queer students of color.
“When we look at contemporary attitudes towards queer people, you can make the argument that (the attitude) is a lot better because we’re not being jailed for just being ourselves these days, but at the same time, it’s insidious, because people think the illusion of progress means that it’s already here, that we’ve already selectively accepted queer and trans individuals instead of people we need to tolerate,” Adeeko said.
Because of harmful rhetoric regarding trans and queer identities, students may feel less inclined to authentically be themselves. Students might be fearful of the backlash they could receive and present themselves disingenuously in order to conform.
“Freedom of expression is one of many things protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and that expression means that we cannot be discriminated against for our viewpoints,” said journalism assistant professor Anita Varma, who works on reporting marginalized communities. “Physical safety needs to be part of the consideration (of free expression), along with the authenticity of expressing who we are.”
It is our constitutional right to express ourselves so long as we are not harming anyone else. The FBI reports 2,402 recorded incidents based on a victim’s sexual orientation in 2023, a vast increase from the year prior, and an average of more than 1 in 5 hate crimes attributed to a victim’s sexual orientation or identity. While it may be our right to express ourselves how we please, gender-nonconforming people repeatedly face harmful interactions that impede this constitutional right.
“There’s a lot of assumption that comes with, especially a non-white person, being queer (because) we’re already being judged for just who we are. It’s an evident demonization thing. … I don’t see enough from the administration trying to fight those characters,” Adeeko said. “This is a lot of pressure for some people to hear, but I have to tell them, because the stakes are that high, how you act now, during these next four years, who you stick up (for), will determine your morals and will determine how far you’re willing to go for the state, instead of comprehending your own ideals.”
UT must foster a safe environment where students feel protected in being who they are without fear of retribution or discrimination from others by promoting an inclusive campus. Learning without fear of violence and with the freedom to be authentically themselves is a right every student should equally have and a principle that should be protected.
Petry is a government and journalism sophomore from Rowlett, Texas.
