US lawyers are offering trans people free legal help before Trump’s inauguration
US lawyers have begun using Twitter to offer trans people free help with ID and name changes before Trump takes power in 2017.
The hashtag #TransLawHelp was launched on Wednesday, and lawyers across the country are already using it to offer pro bono help and legal advice to trans people worried about the result of the election.
(Photo: MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)
There are widespread fears that when Trump becomes president in January, he will begin to roll back LGBT protections, potentially making it harder for trans people to have their gender identity legally recognised.
Those fears have already caused a record number of calls to the crisis hotline Trans Lifeline, amid unconfirmed reports that “at least” eight trans people died by suicide on election night alone.
#TransLawHelp hopes to offer support to trans people who have questions and concerns about their legal status, or want to make sure their identity is legally recognised before Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
In addition to lawyers, some trans people have used the hashtag to offer advice, while others hope to support trans people raising funds for legal processes.
During the election Trump promised to roll back a number of important LGBT protections, though it’s yet to be seen which he will carry through on.
His running mate, and soon-to-be Vice President, Mike Pence has also been vocally homophobic and transphobic in the past.
Exit polls suggest that just 14 percent of LGBT Americans who voted backed the Trump/Pence ticket, highlighting how little appeal the pair have with the LGBT community.
