“There is no order or law that will erase trans people from existence,” Sen. Amanda Cappelletti said, a Democrat who represents parts of Delaware and Montgomery counties.

This afternoon, dozens of advocates and lawmakers rallied for Trans Visibility Day. In the past two months, the community has been the focus of several executive orders from the Trump administration. Advocates say policy from D.C. so far lacks teeth.

“A federal executive order does not actually change the law. It doesn't have the force of law,” Kristina Moon said, senior attorney at the Education Law Center. "Many of them actually say that exactly on the executive order itself.”

Three executive orders relate to schools and transgender students. One relates to gender identity on government documents. Other DEI related orders and actions reference the LGBTQ community.

“Every single one of them is actively being challenged in court. So that gives me a lot of hope, knowing that judges are on the side of law,” Alec Walker-Serrano said, chair of Queer Liberation Committee in the organization NEPA Stands Up. “That there are so many attorneys and advocates out there who are getting into court and fighting for us. Almost immediately, upon those executive orders being signed.”

Federal hate crime and anti-discrimination laws are still in tact. The AP has reported shifts in priority at the justice department when it comes to dropping cases and which cases to pick up. The government documents executive order has met backlash for impact on passport requests.

In the Commonwealth, LGBTQ individuals have anti-discrimination protection through Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission regulations.

“It can be scary, but at this point in Pennsylvania, we are pretty safe,” Walker-Serrano said, “because of Governor Shapiro and how they interpret laws."

Even though they are embattled in court, executive orders can sway organization actions.

“Like local health care clinics and how they're responding,” Walker-Serrano said. "Some of them are preemptive only complying when they don't actually have a legal reason to do so.”

There are state specific pushes on transgender policy. Senate Republicans last week voted in committee to make public school sports teams based on biological sex over gender identity.

LGBTQ advocates have an education packet to specify bullying responses, give trans students privacy, and include LGBTQ history in classes.