Why I am voting for Kamala Harris

A second Trump Administration would be a disaster for the trans community

This election holds enormous stakes for trans people in America. That’s why I’m voting for Kamala Harris. While many members of our community have been less than impressed by the staunchness of her public support, the alternative—a second Trump administration—presents clear, immediate threats that no trans person should ignore.

Let’s start with Donald Trump’s recent rhetoric and proposals. Throughout his 2024 campaign, he’s seized every opportunity to attack trans rights, including an unprecedented barrage of anti-trans ads to the tune of more than $65 million. In recent months, Trump has promised to “stop the left-wing gender insanity” and has called gender-affirming care for minors “child abuse.” He’s proposed not only banning trans athletes from sports across the country but also stripping federal funding from schools that support trans students in any way. It’s not enough for him to repeal protections; his platform would criminalize the very existence of trans youth by punishing their parents and caregivers.

We’ve already seen what Trump is capable of when it comes to anti-trans policies. In 2016, his administration banned trans people from serving in the military and tried to redefine gender so narrowly that we’d effectively be “defined out of existence.” Back then, there were at least some procedural obstacles that prevented Trump from going as far as he wanted. But if he wins this time, he’ll have a more sympathetic court system and Congress, with judges handpicked to overturn trans protections and allies in the Senate pushing to codify anti-trans measures. Imagine a national ban on athletic opportunities and gender-affirming care for youth and federal laws that criminalize schools and hospitals that support trans people. This is not just speculation—his team has already suggested that these are options he’d explore.

It’s true that some of the more extreme fears about Trump’s potential second term—like an outright national ban on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or mass detention of trans people—seem unlikely, if only because Trump’s administration has often struggled to follow through on its grandiose plans. Trump’s track record shows a pattern of big promises with limited execution, bogged down by incompetence and infighting. While his rhetoric is dangerous and his intentions clear, his ability to realize the most extreme policies has historically been limited. Yet, it’s exactly this unpredictability, coupled with his determination to empower others who might be more effective in pushing anti-trans agendas, that makes him so dangerous to trans rights. Even if his administration falls short of these worst-case scenarios, the daily hostility and erosion of protections would still have profound impacts on our community.

Even if he doesn’t pass outright bans, the pressure on institutions like hospitals and schools will be immense. Hospitals that currently offer gender-affirming care could be subjected to federal investigations, making it harder and riskier for doctors to help their trans patients. And changes to Title IX and Title VII - which the Biden administration has broadly interpreted as banning all discrimination based on gender-identity - could give employers and schools more power to discriminate against trans people without consequences. Trump’s administration could make the experience of simply going to school a nightmare across the country, with devastating consequences for youth in particular.

Many of us fear a Trump administration not just because of his policies but because of the people he would empower. Figures like Chaya Raichik, who runs the anti-LGBTQ+ platform Libs of TikTok, and Riley Gaines, who actively campaigns against trans inclusion in sports, would likely have the president’s ear. They’ve already done substantial damage, spreading misinformation and igniting backlash that has real consequences for trans people. Under Trump, their influence would likely grow, making our lives harder, less safe, and less free. If you’re still on the fence, just look at his shortlist for Attorney General.

I know that not everyone in the trans community has confidence in Kamala Harris. There’s a fear she could betray us, especially after moments where her rhetoric seemed cautious or even lukewarm. The absence of trans people from the 2024 DNC, at a time when we so desperately need public support, was hard to miss. I understand that anxiety, but I (and other people much smarter than me) believe her statements are more about trying to lower the temperature on a hot-button issue than a sign of where her policy intentions truly lie. Look no further than her selection of the most pro-trans governor in the nation as her pick for Vice President.

The last four years have unfortunately shown the limits of representation politics. President Biden’s repeated statements about having our back did not stop the onslaught in red states, nor did they turn the courts more friendly. His loud support has been sometimes frustrating when paired with efforts to quietly walk back that support when it counts. Visibility without support is a trap. Kamala clearly does not want to make trans policy a centerpiece of her political campaign, and given the size of our community and the vitriol on display in the debate about our rights, I think that may well be for the best. Most voters seem to agree, and her answer about medical decisions belonging to families and doctors puts her on safer ground.

Criticism of the Biden-Harris administration on other fronts is merited, especially their record on Israel. In the wake of a brutal attack, we watched as Israel has repeated the worst excesses of the United States response to 9/11 — and then some. Vague condemnations, paired with a continuous flow of arms, have only served to weaken the U.S. position on the global stage. I was impressed by President Biden’s decision to end the war in Afghanistan despite fierce criticism. It took real courage to stand by that decision. I only wish he’d show the same clarity here. But Trump offers no better alternative. He’s explicitly stated his desire for Israel to pursue its military and territorial ambitions more aggressively. Donald Trump is not the candidate of peace and human rights — in the Middle East, or anywhere else.

If Trump wins, the consequences for the trans community will go far beyond policy. The media would likely interpret his victory as a mandate for his approach, seeing anti-trans rhetoric as a “winning strategy” — despite ample evidence from recent years that says otherwise. We could expect to see a surge in anti-trans messaging in future elections, campaigns that brand us as dangerous, deviant, or a problem to be solved. Such messaging would be devastating for a community already grappling with high rates of mental health issues, violence, poverty, and limited access to medical care. And the idea that Democrats would respond by moving left on trans equality is, to put it bluntly, a ludicrous fantasy.

I’m realistic about the limits of what Kamala Harris could achieve, especially with a likely hostile Senate and maybe the House, too. She’ll very likely be blocked from passing any major policies on trans rights. But this vote is about more than immediate policy change. It’s about preserving the basic dignity of trans people, about voting for the democratic process, for bodily autonomy, and, above all, for calm. In a time when we’re constantly cast as a “threat” or a “problem,” a little calm would go a long way. And another data point showing the failure of anti-trans politics would go even further. Trans people disproportionately struggle with unemployment, under employment, poverty, housing insecurity, violence, and sexual abuse. It is clear which candidate has a better record on these issues. The concepts of a plan are not enough.

For trans people in particular, this election isn’t just politics. It’s about keeping the door open for a future where we aren’t defined by hateful rhetoric or policies that seek to erase us. Kamala Harris may not represent every hope we have, but she represents a world where trans rights still have a place, where our stories and our lives matter. And for now, in this moment, that’s enough to earn my vote. You vote in the election you have, not the election you wish you had. The people who want us back in the closet or worse are showing up to register their voice. We better be there too.