Dr. Martha Dow is an associate professor in the School of Culture, Media, and Society at UFV
On Jan. 20, 2025, President Donald Trump took office and began implementing strict measures, including pardons to his supporters, radical immigration control policies, and enforcing the “two sexes” executive order. Dr. Martha Dow, UFV Community Health and Social Innovation (CHASI) Hub director and associate professor of the School of Culture, Media, and Society, shared her views on Trump’s “two sexes” executive order and what this means for both Canadians and U.S. citizens.
The “two sexes” executive order, titled “Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism And Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government” states that people will now be defined by their biological sex and be identified as men or women. This order will also no longer acknowledge other gender identities in an effort to protect women, according to Trump.
Dow shared how this executive order affects minority groups who identify differently than what is stipulated in the two sexes policy.
“Trump is on a different plane in the declaration of two sexes. [It’s] obviously dehumanizing to trans individuals and [it] didn’t even acknowledge intersex individuals, which are a significant part of live births across the globe.”
She also commented that what’s even more worrisome is the amount of support his ideas and policies have.
“He’s doing everything he said he’d do. So, I think the bigger problem is not Trump; [it’s] that so much of what he’s doing, he promised he’d do … and yet look at the number of people who thought that [he] was a good alternative. That’s what scares me.”
Trump’s new “two sexes” executive order and his hit against the country’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs have historians pointing out the potential harm to marginalized communities and the inaccuracies of this viewpoint as it disregards biological and historical truths that oppose his rhetoric.
When asked about the order, Dow commented on how necessary it is to acknowledge that the discourse happening is not only across borders, but here in Canada, too. Dow recalled the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) protest of Sept. 20, 2023.
“We shouldn’t pretend that it’s not here. A year and a half ago, we had the Sept. 20 protest … that was not a protest about curriculum; that was a protest about sexual identity and gender identity.”
On Jan. 22, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said he was “only aware of two genders,” when asked about this policy.
Dow noted how this exclusion and historical use of language has been utilized in the process of segregation.
“This idea of building a dangerous class is about language, is about othering, is about scapegoating. There is some solidarity that comes from that, right? To find that shared enemy. And I think that’s where we are.”
The “two sexes” order is only the first of many actions Trump has taken against the queer community. Information on what the government categorized as “gender ideology” has already been erased from federal websites. Trump has also attempted to move transgender women into men’s prisons, cut support of gender-affirming care for youth, ban transgender troops with his “Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness” executive order, stop the use of pronouns, halt education on gender-related and race matters, and block transgender athletes from women’s sports.
With all this in mind, Dow looked back on her experience fighting against queer discrimination during turbulent historical events such as Anita Bryant’s crusades against gay rights, the assassination of civil rights activist Harvey Milk, and the AIDS crisis in the 80s. She also compared the current situation with struggles faced in the past.
“We’re back there — the same language, the same strategies of dehumanization are being used on both sides of the border.”
Dow argued that universities have a powerful role as they promote critical thought, and they should do better in creating spaces that foster conversations on the matter. She encourages people to challenge the idea of neutrality.
“The choice not to show solidarity with people if there’s something happening on campus or in the community [is noticed].”
Dow made an admission of gratitude to the older generations who inspired her own continuous advocacy and to the people in her life who remind her of its significance.
“I have three amazing children, and my partner and I would not have had them if the people who came before us hadn’t made even the thought possible … I get to enjoy every day, the fact that I have them because people battled …, people did the fight.”
