US President Donald Trump has issued an executive order that dramatically reshapes US federal policy on gender recognition.

As originally published in the Western People, 28 January 2025

Two weeks ago, I wrote about tinnitus - that maddening condition of hearing phantom ringing, hissing, or pulsating sounds that aren’t there. To my surprise, the reaction from readers was overwhelming. Emails and messages have been pouring in and I’m still working my way through them (apologies to anyone I haven’t replied to yet).

It turns out many of you, including people I’ve known for years, have been quietly battling tinnitus without ever speaking about it. Some have theories about the cause - standing too close to deafening speakers at gigs, car accidents, or the creeping effects of aging. Others have no clue. One day, the infernal noise just started and hasn’t stopped since.

For a lucky few, the ringing eventually faded, perhaps thanks to remedies like sound therapy or targeted massages of the bones under the ears. But for most of us sufferers, the reality is harsh: there’s no known cure for tinnitus. Instead, therapies like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) aim to help those with the condition learn to cope with it through professional counselling, especially where it is causing anxiety or depression.

The most striking thread in all your messages, though, was the secrecy. Some of you admitted you’d never told anyone - not even family - until reading my piece. A few were close friends of mine and we laughed (wryly) at the mutual shock of discovering this shared struggle.

Many of you asked why I’d kept my tinnitus quiet for so long. The honest answer? I didn’t want to be seen as weak or damaged. I didn’t want to admit to myself that this noise had become part of my identity and risk me being treated differently. I didn’t want you to know.

Recently, in a controversial move that has sent shockwaves through LGBTQ+ communities and beyond, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that dramatically reshapes US federal policy on gender recognition. The order, signed on January 20, 2025, mandates that the United States government recognise only two sexes - male and female - based solely on biological characteristics at birth. It explicitly rejects the concept of gender identity and directs all federal agencies to adhere to this strict binary definition in their operations, from issuing passports to managing federal prisons. The order also calls for an end to federal funding for programmes acknowledging "gender ideology" and requires a comprehensive review of federal employment practices in this regard.

This sweeping action has ignited fierce debate, drawing sharp criticism from medical experts, legal scholars, and LGBTQ+ advocates who argue that it disregards scientific understanding of gender and potentially violates civil rights protections. As the implications of this order unfold, it's clear that its impact will be far-reaching, touching on everything from healthcare access to workplace discrimination policies to public perception of gender identity.

Over the past two decades, our understanding of gender identity has undergone a profound transformation. Once viewed primarily through a binary lens of male and female, it can now be recognised as a complex, multifaceted aspect of human experience. Researchers and mental health professionals have increasingly acknowledged that gender identity is not necessarily fixed at birth, but can be fluid and evolve throughout a person's lifetime. The concept of non-binary identities has gained widespread recognition, with studies showing that a significant portion of the population identifies outside the traditional gender binary. As a result, there's now a more nuanced and inclusive approach to gender identity in both academic and public discourse, reflecting a broader societal shift towards recognising and respecting diverse gender expressions and experiences.

Trump’s new executive order, however, effectively maintains that there are only the two genders and official government policy will insist on it. But gender identity is not something a medical examination can reveal, neither is there a definitive test. Professionals consider psychological, social, and physical factors, as well as cultural considerations, to form a holistic view of an individual's gender experience. A person with gender dysphoria is characterised by significant distress or unease that they experience, due to a mismatch between their gender identity and their sex assigned at birth.

Many serious politicians and pundits claim that the Democrat party’s embrace of gender identity was a serious misstep during the recent election and may have cost Kamala Harris her presidency. Indeed, I know even of several left-leaning Democrats glad of Trump’s decision, who believe the culture wars have gone too far in redefining men and women.

Now, whether you, reading these words, believe in any of what I have just said about gender identity, imagine for a moment another scenario. The government of the most powerful country the world has ever seen has just ruled that ‘tinnitus’ does not exist and anyone who claims to be experiencing it is at best naively mistaken and at worst a deviant liar. So, no matter how loud the ringing inside your own head, the outside world denies it and actively seeks out those like you who say otherwise - to vilify and condemn them. How likely are you to admit to what is going on inside you? How likely are you to seek professional assistance? How much will the internalising of angst and stress cause you to self-hate or injure yourself?

Many readers of this column are reluctant to admit to experiencing tinnitus even to themselves, as I was. Imagine how many more are terrified to admit to gender dysphoria? These conditions are clearly not the same, but those who do not experience either can claim that neither exists, without any testable ‘proof’. Trump and his advocates are certain they are right. But if not, how many will wish to only hear phantom noises in their heads.

As originally published in the Western People, 28 January 2025.