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In the wake of the election, during which hundreds of millions of dollars were spent on anti-trans ads and in which one party chose to vilify trans people as a central part of its message, transgender and nonbinary students, faculty and staff have been left to process what their futures will look like in a less welcoming and more politicized world.

While there are many uncertainties in terms of law and policy, those who consider themselves allies to trans and nonbinary people should view this as a moment to reaffirm their support for their trans employees, coworkers, students and peers and take proactive steps toward clarifying policies and procedures that support trans life and work.

Before I continue, I want to roll back the clock 15 years to 2009, when I first came out as transgender while an undergraduate student at the University of Iowa. While this process was by no means a walk in the park, looking back, I did benefit from one key cultural difference: Transgender identity had not yet been crafted into the political wedge issue it would become.

I found that most of the opposition I faced was due to ignorance rather than malice. Within that context, allyship meant something different than it does now. While at that time it largely meant acknowledging and validating my identity, helping me access care and resources, and helping navigate transphobic behavior, in 2025 it must mean something different, something more.

Trans people around the U.S. are facing uncertain futures and are having to ask tough questions about their safety and livelihoods. Questions like: Will I still have access to health care under this new administration? Am I safe in my classroom given how much time and money has been spent on vilifying me? Do I need to consider moving out of the state or country to ensure my safety?

It is hard to articulate the profound fear and uncertainty trans people will be faced with in the coming years, and asking these questions is a terrifying but necessary part of understanding how much we can rely on the world around us for support, both in terms of our work and more fundamentally our livelihoods.

Within this context, allyship must become more active. It is not enough to be vaguely empathetic to the plight of trans people, it is not enough to hire some DEI folks and task them with the work, and it is not enough to “remain neutral” in the face of such direct and vitriolic attacks. So, what I offer below are guidelines for trans allyship in an attainably ideal world.

• Show your support in material and visible ways. Draft proactive policies and public statements affirming your support for trans and nonbinary students, faculty and staff. Think creatively about how you can support us in navigating the daily challenges (accessing health care and bathroom facilities, staying safe in our communities, etc.) of living under increasingly hostile circumstances. Understand that trans and nonbinary people are doing a lot of work behind the scenes right now to ensure their safety: What can you be doing to support them directly and indirectly?

Trans and nonbinary people face an uncertain future on so many fronts; you have the ability to help make sure that academia isn’t part of that uncertainty. We do not need your vague empathy or hollow platitudes: We need your material and active support. Be an ally and convince others to be as well.