The federal government shows continued efforts to undermine gender identity and enforce people’s gender as their assigned-at-birth gender. These moves to legally enshrine the gender binary threaten the rights of transgender, gender nonconforming, and female students. California State Univerisity, Stanislaus is standing strong in affirming its commitment to gender equality on campus.

The Office of the President from California State University, Stanislaus sent out an email titled “Affirming Our Commitment to Gender Equality at Stan State.” In this email, President Britt Rios-Ellis addressed developments concerning the U.S. President’s Executive Order: Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.

President Trump’s executive order raised concerns from students, faculty, staff and the community of Stan State. In the email, President Britt Rios-Ellis affirmed Stan State’s commitment to gender equality at the University.

“Please know that all Warriors are seen, valued and belong at Stan State,” she wrote.

The steps the school is taking to affirm this commitment include designating Jesse Magaña as the school’s confidential point of contact supporting the needs of the LGBTQ+ community. Additionally, the aforementioned email included campus support resources available to students. Students can contact Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at (209)-667-3381. Faculty and staff can contact the Employee Assistance Program at (800)-367-7474.

The school will also be providing a workshop called “Establishing a Culture of CARE for Our LBGTQ+ Community” on Monday, March 24, from 9 a.m. to noon in the Warrior Cross Cultural Center (WCCC) Conference Room. Interested students can register for the workshop online and attend it either virtually or in person. The workshop will provide students and faculty with support and strategies that promote an inclusive curriculum and learning environment.

How We Ended Up Here

President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January that stated the efforts to undermine the biological reality of sex have fundamentally attacked women and have deprived them of their dignity, safety and well-being.

This led President Trump to implement an executive order that legally defined women and men by the rigid biological criteria currently used to assign sex at birth, citing the protection of women’s rights and freedom of conscience as justification. He gave the following definitions to govern all interpretation and application of federal law and administration policy:

• Sex is to be referred to as an individual immutable biological classification as either male or female, and sex does not include the concept of gender identity.
• Women and girls shall mean adult and juvenile human females.
• Men and boys shall mean adult and juvenile human males.
• Female means a person belonging, at conception, to the sex that produces the larger reproductive cell.
• Male means a person belonging, at conception, to the sex that produces the small reproductive cell.
• Gender identity does not provide a meaningful basis for identification; it cannot be recognized as a replacement for sex.
• Agencies and federal employees shall enforce laws governing sex-based rights. There should only be the terms “sex,” “male,” “female,” “men,” “women,” “boys,” and “girls” in all official agency business, documents, and communications.
  (Executive Order 14168, 2025)

The idea of a binary of biological sex has been scientifically challenged, with reports like “The Myth of Biological Sex” from Forbes explaining that modern-day professionals are largely in agreement that both sex chromosomes and the physical appearance of genitalia are insufficient criteria for defining sex.

In the article, they write that research has shown that about 2% of the population is born with ambiguous genitalia, and that there are many individuals assigned male or female at birth who do not produce sex cells, the main criteria by which the executive order defines sex.

Effects of the Executive Order

The executive order has been signed, and as of now, we are seeing companies and individuals either complying with it or pushing back against it. Meanwhile, gender minority groups are being attacked.

We have already started to see transgender people being affected by this executive order. This executive order has had significant effects on transgender people, regardless of their social status.

Actress Hunter Schafer, famously known for her role in Euphoria, has already witnessed the effects of this executive order. Although she identifies and presents herself as female, her gender on her passport has been changed to male. Measures like this not only invalidate trans people’s experiences and lives but also hinder one’s right to freedom and the pursuit of happiness.

Why Conservatives are Pushing for This

For years, conservatives have attacked gender identity, arguing that the gender binary is ingrained in human nature and those who define themselves as exempt from this binary have mental health issues. This executive order is intended to reinforce the traditional gender binary.

The first 100 days of a presidency is an important time for presidents. This is the time when the president sets the tone for their term. They sign important legislation and implement change, setting the foundational work for the next four years. Trump’s decision to target gender identity within this window raises questions about his priorities.

BrandonWolfe-Funnicutt, Ph.D., an associate professor of history at Stan State, offered insight into why the conservatives pushed for this agenda so early in Trump’s term.

“The strategy is to divert attention from the high cost of living, especially the ever-rising costs of food, housing, education and healthcare,” Wolfe-Hunnicutt stated.

President Trump’s decision to sign this executive order early on in his term raises questions about his priorities, as some critics argue he has not followed through with his promise and one of his main points for running, which is lowering the cost of living. In contrast, policies that he has talked about implementing and has implemented, such as tariffs, may raise the cost of living.

“I think that the scapegoating vulnerable and marginalized communities is a tried and true method of diverting public attention from that [sic] very unpopular agenda,” Wolfe-Hunnicutt stated.

What Faculty from the University Think

Faculty members have expressed their thoughts on this recent email and the University’s commitment. Ann Strahm, Ph.D., from the sociology department, believes it to be vital but knows that it requires the cooperation of faculty and staff.

“The school’s email reaffirming our commitment to gender equity is very important and necessary,” Strahm said. “I expect the University to continue to hold firm in their commitment to supporting all students and employees; their role in this isn’t done just because they put out a statement.”

Strahm calls upon all unions to work together and fight against any actions taken by any administration, including our union, that will diminish and threaten the long-term value of a liberal arts education.

Strahm calls for fellow faculty and staff to resist policies that undermine a diverse student body and workforce or any attempts to reduce programs that ensure inclusive activities, spaces, and policies.

She also calls upon all of her colleagues to clearly and loudly show their support for students and employees of Stan State.

She imposes this question on the administration: Do they love all children? Are they willing to stand up for all children or just their own?