There are several reasons why members of the LGBT population are concerned and frankly worried about the recent election of President-Elect Donald Trump by the Electoral College.
Here are some concrete specifics re: why people are concerned about Trump.
1) Trump’s own words.
Some people are fond of quoting Trump from his speech at the GOP convention this year, when he said, “As your president, I will do everything in my power to protect our LGBTQ citizens from the violence and oppression of a hateful foreign ideology.” They like to say that Trump meant he will protect LGBTQ people. He did not say that. He said he will try to protect LGBTQ people from violence and oppression of a hateful foreign ideology. But he offered no protection against hateful domestic ideology, such as the kind voiced by many in the alt-right and other movements.
In fact, on Sunday, November 13, Trump named Steve Bannon his Chief Strategist and Senior Counselor. Bannon is the former president of Breitbart.com, which under his leadership became one of the most vigorous proponents of anti-black, anti-Semitic, anti-LGBT, and pro-white supremacist ideology you can find in the United States. This action by Trump has generated reactions of fear and concern among Jews, racial minorities and members of the LGBTQ community in the last 18 hours.
2) The 2016 Republican Party Platform.
GOP leaders and others will ask, expect and negotiate with Trump to shape national US policy that aligns with the GOP Platform.
The GOP Platform is explicit about opposing same-sex marriage, full stop.
The Platform also supports “conversion therapy” for gay youth — so-called gay conversion therapy has been studied and shown to be harmful and not beneficial.
The Platform explicitly states, “Every child deserves a married mom and dad….Children raised in a two-parent household tend to be physically and emotionally healthier, more likely to do well in school, less likely to use drugs and alcohol, engage in crime or become pregnant outside of marriage,” although there is no scientific data to support this claim.
The Platform encourages the use of religion as a cover for “just because I think so-based” discrimination and harmful treatment of LGBTQ people in public services, education, employment and housing.
3) Vice President-elect Pence.
As governor of Indiana, Pence worked with the Indiana legislature to pass several laws that are openly harmful to LGBT people. Pence has never hidden his dislike of LGBT people and his belief that LGBT people should not enjoy the same rights, privileges and legal treatment as heterosexuals. Many people expect that as President of the Senate, he will work with GOP legislators to implement anti-LGBT legislation at the federal level, using the same strategies and tactics that he successfully used at the state level in Indiana.
Bottom line: Many LGBT people (and Muslims, women, and racial minorities) do not fear Trump as much as they fear the actions of people he will name to his cabinet and other powerful positions.