Apple, Google & Nike Sign Open Letter Opposing Trump's Trans Erasure

As the National Center for Transgender Equality reported today, more than 40 companies including Google, Nike, Apple, Lyft and Coca Cola have signed an open letter opposing the Trump administration's effort to erase transgender people from American and strip them of their legal protections. "We, the undersigned businesses, stand with the millions of people in America who identify as transgender, gender non-binary, or intersex, and call for all such people to be treated with the respect and dignity everyone deserves," reads the Business Statement for Trans Equality. "We oppose any administrative and legislative efforts to erase transgender protections through reinterpretation of existing laws and regulations. We also fundamentally oppose any policy or regulation that violates the privacy rights of those that identify as transgender, gender non-binary, or intersex."

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"In the last two decades, dozens of federal courts have affirmed the rights and identities of transgender people," the letter continues. "Cognizant of growing medical and scientific consensus, courts have recognized that policies that force people into a binary gender definition determined by birth anatomy fail to reflect the complex realities of gender identity and human biology."

"Recognizing that diversity and inclusion are good for business, and that discrimination imposes enormous productivity costs (and exerts undue burdens), hundreds of companies, including the undersigned, have continued to expand inclusion for transgender people across corporate America. Currently more than 80 percent of the Fortune 500 have clear gender identity protections; two-thirds have transgender-inclusive healthcare coverage; hundreds have LGBTQ+ and Allies business resource groups and internal training efforts."

"Transgender people are our beloved family members and friends, and our valued team members," the letter concludes. "What harms transgender people harms our companies. We call for respect and transparency in policy-making, and for equality under the law for transgender people." Amen.