Trump stance on diversity could lead to marginalized LGBTQ community

The founder of Marianas Business Network said president-elect Donald J. Trump threat of dismantling Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, or DEI, protections may have negative implications for workplaces and economic development.

“Rolling back DEI programs as proposed by Trump would have serious consequences for both businesses and the economy. DEI is not just about fair treatment but also about enabling businesses to attract top talent and foster innovation. Eliminating these protections and enforcing rigid gender policies could lead to regression in workplaces and negatively affect economic growth,” said MBN founder and businessman PK Phommachanh in an interview.

Trump has expressed intentions to diminish the focus on diversity and legal protections for LGBTQ individuals, aiming to end current diversity, equity, and inclusion of DEI initiatives in government.

Phommachanh believes in the importance of DEI initiatives citing his experience as a senior director of HR in a global Fortune 500 company.

“I believe deeply in the importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives. In my past career as a senior director of HR for a global Fortune 500 company, I saw firsthand how qualified individuals were sometimes overlooked due to their race, gender, or sexual orientation. Despite my efforts to create change, the culture remained restrictive. This experience ultimately led me to leave the company and work for a search firm committed to DEI, where I witnessed how businesses thrive when diverse talent is embraced.”

He added that, as a business owner, he has seen how these initiatives directly affect the workforce even at the local level.

“In some places, stereotypes prevent local individuals from being hired. DEI educates and encourages companies to move beyond biases tied to ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation, ensuring that businesses and communities are strengthened through diversity and inclusion,” added Phommachanh.

Trump seeks to eliminate DEI programs, leveraging federal funding for government institutions and he plans to stop transgender participation in sports designated for girls, claiming this is a widespread issue despite lacking evidence, aims to revoke the Biden administration’s expansions of Title IX protections for transgender students and wants legislation recognizing only two genders at birth are among Trump’s stance on diversity and LGBTQ rights.

Meanwhile, Pride Marianas’ Roberto Santos expressed his dismay about Trump’s return to the presidency as he shared possible implications for marginalized communities.

According to Santos, Trump uses fear in politics and supports racist and anti-2SLGBTQIA+ policies that affect marginalized groups, including Chamorro and Carolinian peoples.

“I, personally, and along with many of my family and friends, am deeply discouraged. It is evident in his public speeches how he utilizes fear to encourage people to support racist, misogynist, anti-2SLGBTQIA+ policies and actions against marginalized peoples. Marginalized people include indigenous Chamorro and Carolinian peoples in the Marianas. It includes Chamorro and Carolinian immigrants to the United States. It includes our gay, lesbian, and trans children and relatives. It includes immigrants to the Marianas,” said Santos

Santos added that there is a historical tendency in the U.S. to respond to fear of minorities with military presence and violence and despite issues with Kamala Harris, Trump is favored over her, showing a troubling preference for a convicted felon.

“And we know that historically the primary strategy of the United States is to respond to its fear of minorities with increased military presence and violence. Even as Kamala Harris presented her own problematic platform as a candidate, the U.S. is clear in its preference for a literal convicted felon who we had previously voted out of office over a woman.”

Santos concluded that Pride Marianas will keep promoting marginalized voices and advocating for their rights.

“But I am ready to watch how this plays out. Maybe he will surprise us this time. How many times have you told yourself this about a man? In any case, it is important that we as activists and advocates for queer people, for women, for Indigenous Pacific islanders, for immigrants, for the environment, and for people with differing abilities that our work continues. And so, Pride Marianas will continue to center two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, questioning, intersex, asexual, gender nonconforming, indigenous, and other marginalized voices.”