In the United States, the Trump administration’s latest move against trans rights is hitting universities where it hurts most — their funding. A new “Compact for Academic Excellence” demands that schools comply with an ideology that denies the existence of transgender people, defining “male” and “female” solely through “reproductive function and biological processes.” In short: sign away your inclusivity, or lose your money.
At first glance, this might seem like distant news — another episode in the ongoing U.S. culture war. But for queer people everywhere, including here in Brussels, it’s a stark reminder that our rights are never guaranteed. The struggle for visibility, dignity, and self-definition transcends borders. What happens in Washington can ripple through classrooms in Europe, through funding policies, and even through the words we use to describe ourselves.
We spoke to Nora, a trans student from Belgium currently studying abroad, who feels the impact deeply. “It’s not just about America,” she says. “When a government says universities should stop recognizing trans students, it sends a message to the world: that trans lives are negotiable. And that’s terrifying.”
Universities — those spaces meant for curiosity, debate, and the celebration of difference — are now finding themselves at the crossroads of ideology and survival. The idea of “academic freedom” is being twisted into a test of obedience. When political power starts deciding who counts as a man or a woman, it stops being about education altogether. It becomes about control — about shrinking the world instead of expanding it.
And yet, amidst the fear, there’s resilience. Across campuses in the U.S. and Europe, students and professors are organizing, building networks of solidarity that defy national borders. “You can’t unlearn humanity,” says Nora with a smile. “We exist — and we’re not going anywhere.”
You may also like
-
Liège Pride: When the Cité Ardente Dresses in Rainbows
Liège is getting ready to turn its streets, riverside and squares into a rainbow‑coloured playground
-
Lindsey Graham: When Rumors Hide What Really Hurt Queer Lives
For queer and allied readers, Lindsey Graham’s death at 71 isn’t just a meme moment
-
RTVE, Pride and Public Service: Madrid’s Orgullo on Air and in the Streets
In Spain, public broadcaster RTVE once again celebrated Orgullo LGTBIQ+ by actively participating in the
-
Guatemala’s Marriage Equality Case Could Redraw the Country’s Queer Future
In Guatemala, LGBTQ+ activists have filed a legal action to challenge the ban on same‑sex
-
Hungary’s Momentum Pushes for Adoption Rights: Why This Referendum Matters Beyond Budapest
In Hungary, the opposition party Momentum has launched a referendum initiative to allow same‑sex couples