Manitobans share fears of U.S. travel following ‘two gender’ executive order.

Since President Donald Trump’s second term leading the U.S. began Monday, executive orders have been signed including one recognizing two genders — male and female. The order to use “clear and accurate language and policies that recognize women are biologically female, and men are biologically male” is leaving many in Manitoba’s transgender community avoiding travel down south.

“I will never visit the States and I never have,” said Alex Woodford, a transgender man living in Winnipeg. “You’re taking away somebody’s human right, that’s what you’re doing. I’m scared they’re gonna take away our rights.”

Woodford reflected on growing up in a home he said was strict on male and female identities and relationships. He said he “always knew” he wasn’t a woman, his assigned gender at birth. In adulthood, Woodford didn’t even consider the possibility of being transgender until his son approached him about his own transition.

“I was explaining to him how I felt as a person and growing up, and my son goes, I’m not pushing this on you or trying to be like this. But he goes, what if you are (trans) and you just don’t understand it yet because you didn’t have that life support,” said Woodford. “I was thinking long and hard and I thought, yeah. Maybe.”

Over the past few years, the pair have made their own journeys of transitioning alongside each other.

“He’s my biggest support. Still is,” said Woodford’s son, Johnny Angel.

Transition was not taken lightly for the father-son duo

Upon learning Angel wanted to begin his transition, Woodford said he went through a short period of grief.

“I went through the mourning of losing a daughter. It was quick, it was really quick. Because at the end of the day, I gained an amazing son,” said Woodford.

Angel said he went through the same experience.

“It was hard to get used to … I lost a mom, gained a dad. It was a bit hard to go from mom to transition to dad,” said Angel.

Although Woodford was supportive of Angel’s transition and his request to begin hormone therapy, Woodford said the decision wasn’t made lightly. The pair spoke at length about the process of transitioning, and Woodford required Angel to dig deep into himself.

“I want an essay on why you want to do this to yourself,” Woodford said he told his son. “Why do you want to be this person? Why do you feel different?”

“Yes, I really did write that essay,” said Angel. Chuckling to himself as he spoke with CityNewd he added, “Sadly, (my dad) didn’t write one for me when I told him to start one … It was only fair.”

Executive order by President Trump

Upon hearing of the ‘two gender’ executive order in the US, Angel said he’s worried for his friends in the U.S. He says his identity being recognized is crucial — and having access to gender-affirming care saved his life.

“I don’t think I’d be alive today,” said Angel. “I am scared, I really am. I fear for my life if I go there.”

Woodford adding, “Don’t we have enough hate as it is? Why do you gotta create more? Why?”

Advocate, transgender man and MLA for Kirkfield Park, Logan Oxenham, said the order from the Oval Office did not surprise him.

“Given the rhetoric, no, I was not (surprised),” said Oxenham. “But it did not prevent me from feeling those feelings of anxiety and fear. We all want to be validated. We all want to be affirmed in who we are as people.”

Oxenham said he understands the 2SLGBTQIA+ community’s feelings of fear, sadness and anger.

“I have to acknowledge that their feelings are valid. It’s a scary time to be gender diverse, Two Spirit or Transgender. But I still have hope,” said Oxenham.

“This isn’t our first rodeo. We’ve been through these things before and we’re a resilient community who will stand up in the face of this ignorance and really lean into each other.”

Oxenham said he’s most concerned about transgender youth and the message the order is sending, but reiterated the Manitoba provincial government is an ally to the community.

“We live in a province and you have a government that really is actively taking steps to make sure that Trans people have access to affirming care,” he said. “We passed a great bill last year, The Two-Spirit and Transgender Day of Visibility Act … I think that’s a really powerful piece of legislation.”

Like Oxenham, Woodford said he’ll continue advocating for transgender people both above and below the border.

“I’ll never stop fighting,” he said.