How Trans Kids Can Protect Themselves Now That Trump Is in Office [Video]

On the first day of his second term, President Donald Trump signed an executive order attacking transgender people, mandating that the federal government recognize only male and female genders, among other actions. Though the government can exclude trans people from federal sex discrimination protections and make it more difficult for trans people to navigate certain spaces, the government cannot decide who you are or how you identify.

Still, Trump’s assault against trans rights on his first day in office had an impact on trans kids: According to the Trevor Project, the suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ young people saw a 33% increase in call volume to its crisis services on Inauguration Day as compared to prior weeks. The bump in calls on January 20 follows a historic 700% increase in volume on November 6 — the day after Trump was elected.

“No matter your political beliefs or how you feel about the current …