On Jan. 21, the Right Rev. Mariann Budde stood in front of a crowd at the Washington National Cathedral to give a sermon at an inaugural prayer service. The Episcopal bishop of Washington addressed President Donald Trump, who was sitting in the front row, and asked him to “have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now,” referring to groups of people Trump has publicly targeted such as immigrants and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Budde implied that threatening and harming people who make the U.S. a more diverse and welcoming nation is dangerous. In fact, a diverse country made up of people with a seemingly unlimited amount of experiences and backgrounds should be welcomed and celebrated. It is a simple and well-known consequence, but one that needs to be repeated during Trump’s second administration: if a small group of people with the same background and perspectives dominate a country and reap all privileges, then the benefits of diversity and equality are lost.
During Trump’s first few days in office, he rescinded executive orders that “dismantle decades of Federal Anti-Discrimination Policy,” according to the ACLU. Specifically on Wednesday, Trump signed an order to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the federal government, the Associated Press reported. Trump also rolled back protections for transgender people by enforcing the federal government to recognize “only two immutable sexes: male and female,” according to the AP. As a result, the AP also reported, “federal prisons and shelters for migrants and rape victims are to be segregated by sex.”
The White House published a fact sheet online following the signing of Trump’s executive orders, celebrating the decision and declaring that it “protects the civil rights of all Americans” and “merit-based opportunity.” It is difficult to understand how removing programs aimed at promoting inclusion and equality can be done in the name of protecting civil rights. DEI efforts and programs are meant to provide support for those who were historically excluded in many sectors of life. Intolerance and hatred against marginalized groups persist in the modern day and therefore barriers to accessing opportunities still exist.
The White House’s fact sheet states, “reversing the progress made in the decades since the Civil Rights Act of 1964 toward a colorblind and competence-based workplace, radical DEI has dangerously tainted many of our critical businesses and influential institutions, including the federal government.” The rhetoric of DEI being a symbol of national regression is an excuse to limit opportunities, protections and resources that are meant to aid marginalized and vulnerable groups of people.
As Trump undoubtedly continues to attack and reverse legislation and programs aimed at promoting DEI, people must advocate for those who are most affected and be aware of the harmful language attempting to frame diversity as a problem in the U.S.
Editorials represent the majority opinion of The Post's executive editors: Editor-in-Chief Alyssa Cruz, Managing Editor Madalyn Blair and Equity Director McKenna Christy. The Post editorials are independent of the publication's news coverage. The Post can be reached via editor@thepostathens.com.
