Heritage Foundation Urges FBI to Crack Down on Transgender Activism
Leading Off: The FBI begins developing tools to track “trans extremists,” North American schools enforce anti-trans policies, a Louisiana nonprofit expands access to HRT. Our top stories starting out the week in trans news.
photo illustration by Aly Gibbs
by Assigned Media
Following the death of Charlie Kirk as well as a recent shooting at a Catholic School the FBI has begun developing tools to identify transgender suspects as “Nihilistic Violent Extremists.” Each of the recent shootings have been blamed by the Trump Administration on a “cult of gender ideology,” with Kirk’s shooter having had a partner who may be trans (though this is unconfirmed) and the Minneapolis mass shooter having had a history of transition (though their gender identity at death is unconfirmed).
Shortly following public awareness of this push by the FBI, the Heritage Foundation (better known as the group behind Project 2025) released a memo calling on the FBI to label all transgender activism as “Trans Ideology-Inspired Violent Extremism,” a move that would redefine all or nearly all speech in defense of trans people’s basic equality and rights as an incitement to violent acts.
Widespread fear about the FBI’s intentions spread among the trans community in the wake of such reports. It’s important to note that, at this time, the FBI tools and Heritage Foundation’s proposal are both in their early stages. Even if enacted, they would not necessarily label all trans people as terrorists. However, it is indisputable that these measures would set the stage for FBI surveillance and crackdowns on transgender activists and groups under the guise of the domestic terrorism fight.
Schools are beginning to see the result of the wave of anti-trans legislation passed last year. In Texas, many schools have begun enforcing policies that require teachers and staff to only use the legal names of trans, nonbinary, or otherwise gender nonconforming students, forcing the deadnaming of trans students. Notably, these rules do not apply for cisgender students, allowing them to go by any nickname that they like.
This comes as the latest in a long list of actions by the Texas government to suppress trans people and attempt to drive them out of public life.
The harsh school policies are not limited just to the U.S.; in Alberta, a new edict that came into effect at the beginning of September now requires that all girls age 12 or older to provide official declarations that they are “biological females” in order to participate in any female competitive school sport. The result of this has led to players and teams being unable to compete due to forms not being filled out by players’ parents in time for games or tryouts. This edict is not in effect for male sports.
In Louisiana, the Trans Income Project has begun offering to pay for HRT for Louisianans who are enrolled in Medicaid. This first of its kind offering comes in response to the Louisiana government enacting a ban on gender affirming care being provided by Medicaid.
This program is one of many services the Trans Income Project provides for transgender people in Louisiana. Other services include cash assistance, meal assistance, and regular support groups.
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