On April 5, millions of Americans raised their signs and voices as part of a nationwide campaign protesting Donald Trump’s presidency. Dubbed the “Hands Off” movement, these demonstrations erupted in response to sweeping federal funding cuts and more than 116 executive orders passed in the last 84 days.
With 100,000 protesters in Boston alone and local gatherings in Lowell and Chelmsford, the impacts of these changes have hit home for many in Westford. Among various sentiments present was support for the LGBTQ+ community, particularly after the administration’s efforts to strip recognition of transgender identities and roll back initiatives centered on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
In fact, within WA’s own Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) club, senior president Ani Masterson has seen rising fear among queer students.
“I knew there was a lot of targeting and I knew it’s been happening for years, but it’s really becoming apparent that [the Trump administration] doesn’t want us around,” Masterson said. “It’s terrifying to see [that] the freshmen in the club are scared. We’ve had a lot of discussion about the importance of keeping GSA alive because it’s going to be hard to survive the next four years if we don’t know there’s a place for us.”
Transgender Policies and D.E.I
Much of this concern stems from one of Trump’s first executive orders, which effectively prohibits transgender athletes from competing in sports and restricts access to gender affirming care for people under 19.
“It totally disrespects the community and the civil rights of a huge group of people, including those born intersex,” Wendy Gloyd, member of Westford’s DEI Committee and LGBTQ advocate, said. “But [being transgender] is not just a social construct or ideology. It’s a reality. There are youth who naturally feel different but can be made to feel broken or wrong through this rhetoric, and that’s what concerns me the most: that youth won’t get the support they need under this administration.”
Since February, the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) has been investigated for their inclusion of transgender athletes, sparking uncertainty for the future of high school sports.
While WA athletes aren’t directly affected as of now, the district’s pledge to inclusivity was reaffirmed by Superintendent Christopher Chew, who was recently appointed a Superintendent Representative on the MA Commission for LGBTQ Youth.
“In the big picture, it’s not going to impact Westford differently than it will other public schools in Massachusetts,” Chew said. “At least, in terms of our policies and in terms of our spirit and the inclusive environment we strive to create. […] Through the state, we have more protections, and where we have more protections, we follow that.”
The Westford School Committee also recently approved amendments to the Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students policy, a process started last year to update any potentially offensive language. The policy involves respecting transitioning students’ privacy in communication with parents and ensuring access to facilities that correspond with their gender identity.
On April 9, Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler similarly reaffirmed the state’s commitment to promoting diversity in schools in a letter to the U.S Department of Education. In calling diversity one of the pillars behind the state’s successful school system, Tutwiler’s message echoed that of the Westford School Committee and Chew.
“At the end of the day, I don’t know of anybody who doesn’t agree that every child should feel like they belong in their school,” Chew said. “[…] Everything that we have worked on for the last 25 years and that we are working on now is grounded in that. […] We talk about diversity and inclusion in so many ways, and [the administration] going to be hard pressed to find schools that won’t continue to talk about making sure everybody feels welcome.”
Looking to the Future
Despite protections set in place by both the town and state, many queer community members remain concerned for the future.
“This is the growing time for discovering identity and if I’m not allowed to grow or express myself then that’s a problem, both physically and mentally. I don’t know if I am going to [transition] or anything, but not having the option to [receive gender affirming care] is worrying,” freshman Apollo* said. “It also scares me that we are going backwards as a country.”
Apollo* was one of several Westford residents participating in the “Hands Off” protest in Boston out of concern over discriminatory policies geared towards the LGBTQ+ community.
“It sent a message that there are a lot of us. It’s not just a few people that are upset, it’s thousands who are willing to fight back,” Apollo* said. “I also felt really proud of all the people there, and myself, that came and expressed ourselves. I was amazed how many people there were. It was just incredible. It reminded me that we should speak up and keep fighting for what we believe in.”
Earlier this month, over $100 million in federal funding to Massachusetts schools was withdrawn, affecting twenty school districts. Since $1.2 million of WPS funding is federal, losing it over inclusion policies remains a concern.
For others, the Trump administration has also affected their college search, with students like Masterson even considering studying abroad rather than in the United States.
“I’m worried that my time in college may be completely impacted by the political environment. I do want to protest. I want to be active. I want to help people, and I’m scared that it might get me in trouble,” Masterson said. “I’m worried that I might take it a step too far and lose support, and then I’m on my own, on top of everything, or if my school is defunded.”
Senior Natalia Ayala found herself in a similar situation, taking into consideration her safety as both a bisexual and Hispanic student when removing three schools from her college list completely.
“Now that colleges have stopped being protected areas from ICE and they are detaining people who have legal reasons to be in the United States, I’m worried that I would be a woman who is alone, somewhere I don’t know very well with people who might not have the power to defend me,” Ayala said. “I’m also worried because I’m bi[sexual] and I am pretty open about that. I’m not going to go back into the closet and I don’t care what people think about me. But, I do care if it would affect my safety.”
In addition to more blatant homophobia and racism on social media, Ayala has also noticed an increase in hostility towards her family when speaking Spanish in public.
“My worry is also that, with the attack on education, [the prejudice] going to get worse. I feel like with education and the more you read and experience the world, comes the ability to be more empathetic,” Ayala said. “By taking that away from people and keeping people ignorant, you don’t give people the chance to build that empathy.”
According to Gloyd, town organizations are also working to counteract the implications of the administration’s agenda. Whether it be a weekly support group or initiating a collaboration with Chelmsford for Transgender Visibility Day, Gloyd notes that getting involved has been one way for her to fight back and support the youth.
“Our community is very strong, very resilient. Know that there are adults who care, who vote, who protest, and who are not going to let this go,” Gloyd said. “Whether we say it or not, we’re at war and none of us will rest in the LGBTQ community. We’re very passionate about protecting each other and taking action. We’ve done it in the past and there’s just no question that we’re going to do it again.”
According to Gloyd, whether it be through protests to support groups, the dedication to maintaining a community rooted in belonging will continue in Westford.
“I’m really proud of our district,” School Committee member Kathryn Clear said. “I think we’ve done a lot of good work, and I think there’s a huge commitment, even in the middle of everything going on right now, to still staying true to who we are as a community.”
*Last name omitted to protect student’s privacy
Maria A • Apr 16, 2025 at 11:00 pm
This was a great article, thank you, and we need to stay vigilant in protecting our community members. Something WA students and their families (whoever can vote) should be thinking of in this context is our town’s upcoming Select-board meeting, because the Select-persons determine our town’s funding priorities, including school budgets and resources. Many of us in the LGBT community are concerned that certain candidates, while *appearing* in support of us, are actually in support of the Trump administration and their policies. Without naming specific names, I would encourage students and their families to do research into which candidates align with their values and would be willing to work to protect our community members, and which ones might align with our community in presentation, but not in values, and vote accordingly!