Roger-Luc Chayer (Image: AI / Gay Globe)
President Trump of the United States ordered, during the night of January 21 to 22, 2025, the suspension and termination, with pay, of all federal employees responsible for implementing DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policies.
This extremist decision followed the announcement of the abolition of these policies throughout the American government, as well as the publication of presidential decrees ending healthcare measures for trans individuals, subsidies related to these issues, and all social protections for LGBTQ+ people.
Even worse, President Trump canceled all funding and subsidies dedicated to HIV prevention and research—a move unprecedented since the virus first appeared in the early 1980s. This measure marks a significant setback in the fight against a pandemic that, although better controlled thanks to medical advances, continues to affect millions of people worldwide.
Public health organizations and researchers have expressed deep concern over this decision, highlighting that it risks undermining decades of progress in HIV prevention, testing, and treatment. By depriving programs of federal funding, this measure could also exacerbate inequalities in access to care, particularly among the most vulnerable communities, such as LGBTQ+ populations, ethnic minorities, and low-income individuals.
This radical stance clearly demonstrates a willingness on the part of the U.S. government to engage in confrontation with a minority that is, nevertheless, protected by the fundamental principles of human rights.
What Are DEI Policies?
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies aim to create an environment where everyone, regardless of their background, identity, or orientation, can thrive. These initiatives seek to address systemic inequalities and promote fairness in areas as diverse as employment, education, and public services. They go beyond integrating minority groups, fostering a deeper understanding of differences and valuing diverse perspectives within society through education and knowledge-sharing.
In practice, DEI policies often involve training programs, adjustments to institutional procedures, and support mechanisms tailored to the needs of specific minorities. The goal is to recognize historical or contemporary barriers that limit equal access to opportunities for all. By adopting such approaches, employees and government officials help reduce bias and establish a climate of mutual respect. These initiatives are somewhat akin to the affirmative action measures of the 1970s.
The Return of Legalized Discrimination
The end of Equity and Inclusion (EI) policies within the U.S. federal government does not merely expose LGBTQ+ communities to discriminatory decisions in employment or role management at the federal level. It also paves the way for the cancellation of these protections across all levels of American society.
This decision is likely to inspire companies, enterprises, governments, and organizations, both within the United States and internationally, to follow the same path. For instance, one can easily imagine that certain African countries or Muslim-majority nations—which have so far provided limited protections for these minorities—may feel emboldened to further erode these fragile advances, signaling that such measures are neither a priority nor necessary.
Elon Musk and His Frustration with Transgender Individuals
The de facto President of the United States, Elon Musk, is reportedly behind the series of decisions made by Donald Trump against LGBTQ+ individuals. Musk barely hides his bias, as he seems deeply entangled in a blatant conflict of interest on an issue that appears to affect him personally.
Trump’s recent measures targeting transgender individuals and sexual minorities seem largely influenced by Musk’s personal frustration with his own transgender daughter, who renounced her father and left the United States following Trump’s election. Driven by apparent resentment, Musk appears to be pushing Trump to retaliate against the LGBTQ+ community, which he perceives as responsible for this personal humiliation.
Such feelings, fueled by intense personal emotions, rarely lead to sound political decisions. They raise ethical questions and underscore the dangers of allowing personal frustrations to shape policies that affect millions of people.
International Boycott Movement
A vast international movement is organizing around two major objectives: providing assistance to LGBTQ+ communities affected by the removal of their legal protections and boycotting the United States at every level, no matter the cost.
This boycott includes, among other actions, refraining from traveling to the United States and selling property in the country. This phenomenon is already evident in Florida and several southern states, where condo sales have reached record levels.
The movement also advocates excluding the United States from participating in international conferences, cultural or sporting events, and boycotting American products and companies such as Netflix, Hollywood films, and, more broadly, anything that symbolizes Donald Trump’s hegemonic influence.
The movement calls for circumventing, wherever possible, iconic U.S. brands and products to express firm opposition to what it describes as the “American Dark Age.”
Implementing such a boycott is undoubtedly complex and requires both individual and collective sacrifices. However, the movement’s leaders argue that it is a necessary response to demonstrate active solidarity and a global rejection of policies that undermine human rights and equality.