Several high-profile tech companies have now spoken out against Trump's recent revoking of crucial protection guidelines for transgender teens, a move which resulted in a vocal outrage on social media over the past few days.
The administration on Wednesday, Feb. 22, revoked federal guidance for transgender students in public schools, which cancels out the freedom of said individuals to use school facilities as prescribed by their gender identity.
Trump's Repeal Of Transgender Protection Policies
The new joint letter, issued by the Justice Department and the Department of Education, ultimately turns the implementation of bathroom use for transgender students over to the states, which rejects then president Obama's original May 2016 directive. Critics, however, are saying that the ruling violates Title IX, a federal law that prevents schools from facilitating discriminatory acts based on sex or gender identity.
Like Trump's calls to create a Muslim registry and his more recent immigration ban, tech companies took no time at all in voicing their concerns and unrest over the ruling, noting how the decision could pave the way for discriminatory acts and possibly dissolve civil rights.
Apple's Response
Apple, among the world's biggest and most crucial companies, led by Tim Cook, who is openly gay, was one of the first to respond to Trump's move. In a statement the company provided to TechCrunch, Apple strongly rebuffs the ruling:
"Apple believes everyone deserves a chance to thrive in an environment free from stigma and discrimination. We support efforts toward greater acceptance, not less, and we strongly believe that transgender students should be treated as equals. We disagree with any effort to limit or rescind their rights and protections."
Google's Response
Google, another high-profile company which in the past had outspokenly supported LGBTQ causes, also versed a similar sentiment. The company previously staged walkout protests weeks ago at several of its campuses around the world to renounce Trump's immigration ban, and now it's speaking out against another one of Trump's decisions.
"We've long advocated for policies that provide equal rights and treatment for all. We're deeply concerned to see a roll-back in transgender students' rights."
Uber's Response
Even Uber, which is currently facing some troublesome controversy of its own after scathing sexual workplace abuse claims surfaced online, also spoke negatively about the ruling, with CEO Travis Kalanick saying that Uber is proud of its "longstanding opposition to harmful initiatives aimed at the LGBT community," as reported by MarketWatch.
"We will continue to speak out against discriminatory actions and in favor of good policy that champions equality and inclusion for all," said Uber.
Other executives, including Marc Benioff from Salesforce, have taken to Twitter to express their opinions on Trump's reversal of the policy in question.
"Let's agree now to always love all our children, and that our schools will be safe places for all," Benioff said.
Brian Krzanich, Intel's CEO, iterated its position on inclusivity and diversity.
"Inclusion and diversity are fundamental to creating a successful biz & world. We stand with [Human Rights Campaign] in the fight to #ProtectTransKids."
After news of the repeal broke, gay rights supporters made their frustration clear. Several hundred people stood outside the White House and protested the decision, chanting "No hate, no fear, trans students are welcome here," according to a report by The New York Times.
Silicon Valley, despite its problematic diversity issues in terms of people in the workplace, are now abandoning its usually hands-off approach to speaking and voicing their individual stances on social and civil rights discussions. Of course, the objections may not have a direct effect on policy, but they represent an awareness of injustice when it bubbles up from the surface, which is often the most important starting point in democracy.
