Pop icon Madonna took to social media to slam President Donald Trump's administration for "slowly dismantling" freedoms for LGBTQ+ people in light of moves they've made since Trump began his second term 10 days ago.
Since taking office, Trump has signed approximately 100 executive actions, many of which included policies targeting LGBTQ+ individuals.
One sweeping executive order declared that the U.S. government would recognize only two sexes, male and female. Another order aimed to dismantle “radical and wasteful” diversity, equity, and inclusion programs within federal agencies.
Additionally, the administration removed LGBTQ resources from government websites, including a page on the State Department's site that had been dedicated to advancing LGBTQ rights globally.
Earlier this week, Trump went further, signing an executive order stating that the federal government would no longer “fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support” gender transitions for individuals under the age of 19. He also signed an order banning transgender troops from serving openly in the military, referring to transgender identity as "radical gender ideology."
The news prompted Madonna to post the following message to her fans on X, many of whom are LGBTQ+:
"It’s so sad to watch our new Government slowly dismantling all the Freedoms we have been fighting for and WON over the years. Don’t give up the Fight!"
You can see her post below.
Many appreciated the singer's remarks.
Madonna has long been an ally to the LGBTQ+ community.
The singer received an Advocate for Change Award from GLAAD in 2019 recognizing her history of activism from the days of the HIV/AIDS pandemic to the present day. At the time, she said that advocating "for all marginalized people is a duty and an honor I could not turn my back on nor will I ever."
Last year, reflecting on the Pulse Nightclub mass shooting in 2016 that killed 49 people, she paid tribute to the many LGBTQ+ victims who were killed in an act of terror.
Noting that "nightclubs, music, and dance" bring people together, she said they "shouldn’t be places or things that we do that bring us sadness and tragedy and murder and death and pain and suffering and trauma."
