'A twist of the knife' Trans people speak out

Right after Donald Trump won the election, Max Kuzma set to work.

- Alaina Demopoulos

As a trans man living just outside Cleveland, Ohio, he knew he needed to get his documentation in order. He considers himself lucky that he already legally changed his name, but rushed to make sure his passport and other documents reflected that. Like so many other trans Americans, Kuzma worried Trump would make good on his promise to roll back LGBTQ+ rights and threaten trans healthcare and the safety of the queer community.

"I was anticipating an attack," Kuzma said. Still, watching Trump sign an executive order that rolled back trans and non-binary people's rights felt like "a twist of the knife". During his inaugural address, Trump said: "As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female."