Why Trump's latest EO is a disturbing attempt to silence Black and LGBTQ students as well as teachers and schools

Anti-LGBTQ group Libs of TikTok hopes that Trump's latest executive order will ban any LGBTQ mention in classrooms.

Another day, another ridiculous executive order from Donald Trump. This time he is targeting LGBTQ and Black students.

From Scripps News:

President Donald Trump signed an executive order aiming to halt what he calls “radical indoctrination” in K-12 schools, specifically targeting "critical race theory" and "gender ideology." The order prohibits federal funding for schools that incorporate critical race theory and other teachings Trump’s administration deems inappropriate. It also directs the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Defense, who oversees Department of Defense-run schools, to develop a strategy within 90 days to halt such teachings from classrooms. The order fulfills a promise President Trump made while campaigning. 

 . . .Critical race theory is an academic concept that was originally taught at the college level. It involves analyzing how race and racism intersect with social structures and institutions. The extent to which critical race theory is taught in K-12 schools. While it may not be taught in its original form, critical race theory has taken on a new meaning for some. Some conservatives argue discussions around diversity, equity and inclusion amount to critical race theory. 

 As the article says, critical race theory is taught at the college level, not K-12 schools. But conservatives have distorted the meaning of critical race theory to imply that amplifying the point of view of the Black Americans or looking at history from the point of view of Black Americans is somehow racist against white people.  

According to The Hill:

But in his order, Trump used the example of the Albemarle County School District in Virginia, which the administration says created an “anti-racism” policy that taught a student “her achievement was based on her race,” alleging the incident was a result of CRT. It is unclear what the criteria will be for the Department of Education to determine if a school is teaching CRT. 

 One has to guess that this is deliberate. By not specifically defining what exactly "critical race theory" is while being specific about the punishment - i.e. denial of federal dollars - Trump's executive order creates a climate of fear in which schools may tread too lightly in talking about race for fear getting into trouble. If this sounds familiar, it should for those who remember the "Don't Say Gay" law in Florida, in which the same tactic was used about LGBTQ issues in the classroom. 

 And speaking of LGBTQ issues, according to The Huffington Post:

The executive order on “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling,” which Trump signed Wednesday, also directs the incoming attorney general to work alongside state attorneys general and local district attorneys to “file appropriate actions against K-12 teachers and school officials who violate the law by: sexually exploiting minors; unlawfully practicing medicine ... without the requisite license; or otherwise unlawfully facilitating the social transition of a minor.”

 Social transition is not a medical procedure. It refers to when a person is able to live publicly as their gender identity and often includes using or trying out a new name, set of pronouns, clothing and hairstyles. The order explicitly targets schools that allow transgender students to use bathrooms or participate in school sports that align with their gender identity.

The order contradicts conservatives' claims that their opposition with issues involving trans kids has to do with children being so-called surgically mutilated (which is a lie in itself.) Trump's order tries to outright police any attempt by trans kids to be their authentic selves in public schools even if the schools are accepting of them doing so.

The Huffington Post article also states the LGBTQ activists fear that the order could also target LGBTQ books in general.  I think the implications go beyond that. My opinion is that it also renders LGB students and students with LGBTQ parents as invisible too because of the portion which mentions "sexually exploiting minors."

Again, there is that vagueness. What constitutes sexually exploiting a minor? Some anti-LGBTQ groups and activists define anything regarding LGBTQ culture as "sexually explicit. We saw this when legislators tried to define drag queens as sexually explicit by nature even when there would be no sexual content involved in their presentations, i.e. the Mary Sue case in Florida. And we've also seen books with no sexually explicit material being banned simply because they contained LGBTQ characters or themes.

But if you have any doubts about how the executive order could render all LGBTQ children as invisible, don't take my word for it.

 The infamous anti-LGBTQ site Libs of TikTok seems to think so. 

I should also point out that Libs of TikTok is saying that it will "expose" people and schools who it feels will be acting contrary to Trump's executive order (see second picture). Libs of TikTok's past "exposure" has played a lot of havoc in the lives of people and institutions it targeted, specifically bomb threats to hospitals. Trump's EO subtly empowers the group to act as some sort of unofficial monitor of America's schools, thereby helping to further an atmosphere of fear for schools, teachers, and especially children.

Trump's executive order will probably be challenged. Whatever the case may be, don't fall for the potential gaslighting. This is not about helping children. This is about silencing Black and LGBTQ kids and kids who have LGBTQ parents, as well as sending a false and particularly disturbing message to them that they don't matter in America.