Trump attacks funding for LGBTQIA+ arts

Donald Trump has demanded that the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) deny grants to projects promoting gender ideology, leading to consequent protests and legal action. The NEA, supposedly an independent agency of the United States federal government, offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. Yet, American theatre companies have now faced restrictions following the NEA’s requirement for theatre grant applicants to not promote gender ideology under the Trump presidency.

In the United States, those who do not identify as cis-gender are under attack, and this implementation of Trump’s order is only furthering the Republican party’s “attack on wokeness”

This is obviously not the first time that Trump and his far-right allies have set back the fight for gender equality, as in his first week in office Trump signed an executive order proclaiming that the government would recognise only two sexes, male and female. In the United States, those who do not identify as cis-gender are under attack, and this implementation of Trump’s order is only furthering the Republican party’s “attack on wokeness”. The executive order also featured an attack on the Smithsonian, as the order also bans any mention of transgender women in the new American Women’s History Museum. The order directs Vice President JD Vance, who has a history of anti-LGBTQIA+ animus, to “eliminate what he finds ‘improper’ from the Smithsonian Institution, including its museums, education and research centres, and the National Zoo.” The executive order reads, “Once widely respected as a symbol of American excellence and a global icon of cultural achievement, the Smithsonian Institution has, in recent years, come under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology.”

(The Theater Offensive) is one of several organisations challenging the NEA over its new requirement that grant applicants will not promote “gender ideology”, joining a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

The Theater Offensive is a theatre that presents art by, for, and about queer and trans people of colour. It started in Boston as an arts activism organisation responding to political failures around the HIV/Aids pandemic in 1989. It is one of several organisations challenging the NEA over its new requirement that grant applicants will not promote “gender ideology”, joining a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The heart of the group’s objection rests on the First Amendment, where they argue that this requirement is unconstitutional, violates principles of free speech and due process, and exceeds the NEA’s statutory authority, jeopardising funding for projects addressing LGBTQIA+ themes. The lawsuit also claims that the “gender ideology” prohibition is unconstitutionally vague under the Fifth Amendment’s due process clause. The lack of a clear definition makes it difficult for artists and organisations to understand what speech is prohibited, leading to a chilling effect and potential for arbitrary enforcement.

Theatre and arts companies are already facing the effects of this new executive order, as they begin to pursue more restricted projects than those originally planned in attempt to comply with the prohibition. Rhode Island Latino Arts (RILA) planned to apply for funding for a production of Faust, potentially featuring a non-binary actor and a storytelling programme that previously included LGBTQ+ topics. Yet, RILA is now limited. Giselle Byrd, the Executive Director of The Theater Offensive states: “This is a great departure from the NEA’s mission, which is to help all Americans create art. This is censorship at its peak and this is also erasure of trans, non-binary and gender-expansive narratives. We have provided contributions to the cultural canon for centuries on end and we will continue to do so.”

The NEA has also announced the cancellation of its “Challenge America” programme, which supported underserved communities, and will prioritise projects celebrating American heritage in the lead-up to the country’s 250th anniversary

Beyond the “gender ideology” prohibition, the NEA also initially required grant applicants to agree not to promote diversity, equity and inclusion. However, this requirement is now on hold thanks to a preliminary injunction issued in a separate case in Maryland. The NEA has also announced the cancellation of its “Challenge America” programme, which supported underserved communities, and will prioritise projects celebrating American heritage in the lead-up to the country’s 250th anniversary. Derek Goldman, Artistic and Executive Director of the Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics at Georgetown University in Washington, states: “This is a time where artists have a real role to play that’s urgent. It may take some doing to define the best ways or how we build community around that. The actions of the administration are to be taken very seriously – they’re no joke – but I already feel an energy of quite meaningful response and momentum.”