Madonna has voiced her opposition to the actions of the Donald Trump administration, particularly regarding its executive orders that affect marginalised groups, including the LGBTQ+ community. The pop icon took to her X account (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, expressing her concerns in the wake of Trump's recent decision to reinstate a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military. This order, titled “Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness,” was signed by Trump on Monday and effectively reverses a 2021 directive from President Joe Biden that had allowed transgender people to enlist and serve openly.
“It’s so sad to watch our new Government slowly dismantling all the Freedoms we have been fighting for and WON over the years,” Madonna shared, punctuating her statement with a display of the LGBTQ pride flag and broken heart emojis. She concluded her message with a call to action: “Don’t give up the Fight!”
The renewed military policy is part of a broader trend in which Trump has rolled back various diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives within just the first week of his return to the presidency. Madonna’s advocacy for LGBTQ rights can be traced back several decades; she has been an outspoken supporter since the 1980s, particularly during the HIV/AIDS crisis. In recognition of her lasting impact, she received the Advocate for Change Award at the 30th annual GLAAD Media Awards in 2019.
In a related statement, Sarah Kate Ellis, the president and CEO of GLAAD, commented on the implications of Trump’s executive order, asserting that “Transgender people are already serving in the military with honour and keeping our country and military safer and stronger.” She emphasised that these individuals meet the same rigorous health and readiness standards, countering the “inaccurate statements and rhetoric” that seem to target them without empirical basis. She added, “LGBTQ Americans have been here before, ending ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ and Trump’s previous trans military ban. Research and military experts have made it loud and clear that targeting service members because of who they are is blatantly discriminatory and makes our country less safe.”
Further highlighting the celebrity response to Trump’s policies, singer Selena Gomez also publicly expressed her frustration regarding the administration's stance on undocumented immigrants. In a now-deleted Instagram video, she became emotional as she lamented the situation, saying, “All my people are getting attacked … the children. I don’t understand.” With tears in her eyes, she added, “I’m so sorry. I wish I could do something but I can’t. I don’t know what to do. I’ll try everything, I promise.”
As public figures like Madonna and Gomez speak out, the discourse surrounding these issues within the LGBTQ community and beyond continues to evolve, reflecting both the challenges and resilience present in contemporary society.
Source: Noah Wire Services