This is one of the words/ phrases you can’t say in the Trump Regime. See a comprehensive list at the Forbidden Words Project.

forbidden word: gender expression

gender

gender noun

1. either the male or female division of a species, especially as differentiated by social and cultural roles and behavior.

   the feminine gender.

2. a similar category of human beings that is outside the male/female binary classification.

3. the concept or system of categories such as male and female: 
   More and more people have a nonbinary understanding of gender.
   Gender is a factor in pay rates across industries.

4. Grammar. 

   1. (in many languages) a set of classes that together include all nouns, membership in a particular class being shown by the form of the noun itself or by the form or choice of words that modify, replace, or otherwise refer to the noun, as, in English, the choice of he to replace the man, of she to replace the woman, of it to replace the table, of it or she to replace the ship. The number of genders in different languages varies from 2 to more than 20; often the classification correlates in part with sex or animateness. The most familiar sets of genders are of three classes (as masculine, feminine, and neuter in Latin and German) or of two (as common and neuter in Dutch, or masculine and feminine in French and Spanish).

   2. one class of such a set.

   3. such classes or sets collectively or in general.

   4. membership of a word or grammatical form, or an inflectional form showing membership, in such a class.

5. Archaic. kind, sort, or class.

gender verb used with object

1. to attribute gender to, or to classify by gender: 
   Usually when I wear my hair down people gender me as female.
   Gendering soaps seems a bit much—can’t men and women use the same products?

gender verb used with or without object

1. Archaic. to engender.

2. Obsolete. to breed.

Sensitive Note

It is possible to define gender as interchangeable with “sex,” indicating that the term can be used when differentiating male creatures from female ones biologically. However, the concept of gender, a word primarily applied to human beings, has additional connotations having to do with general behavior, social interactions, and most importantly, one’s fundamental sense of self. People increasingly recognize that a complex spectrum between male and female exists not only mentally, psychologically, and behaviorally, but also anatomically—there have always been intersex people. The conflation of gender with sex, though historically common, is now often criticized because it is seen by some to be insensitive or dehumanizing. People who do not question their assigned gender are usually referred to as cisgender, or just cis— as in a cis male or a cis female. Using cis is a way to refer to these individuals without implying that cisgender people are the only norm. Those who don’t identify with the gender assigned to them at birth are often referred to using the umbrella term transgender, though not everyone labeled in this way accepts the designation. The term transgender includes both binary trans people and those who are outside of the male–female binary in some way, including nonbinary and genderqueer people. After realizing their gender, many transgender people may change the way they dress, speak, or otherwise present themselves. Some may transition medically through surgery, hormone replacement therapy, and other procedures. Some may want to change the language people use to refer to them, including things like given name and pronouns as well as gender labels. This array of life experiences has resulted in a veritable explosion of new, or newly adapted, vocabulary.

from — Dictionary.com | Meanings & Definitions of English Words. (2025k). In Dictionary.com. 

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expression

expression, noun

1. the act of expressing or setting forth in words.

   the free expression of political opinions.

   Synonyms:

   statement, assertion, declaration, utterance

2. a particular word, phrase, or form of words.

   old-fashioned expressions.

   Synonyms:

   idiom, term

3. the manner or form in which a thing is expressed in words; wording; phrasing.

   delicacy of expression.

   Synonyms:

   phraseology, diction, language

4. the power of expressing in words.

   joy beyond expression.

5. indication of feeling, spirit, character, etc., as on the face, in the voice, or in artistic execution.

   the lyric expression embodied in his poetry.

   Synonyms:

   sign, manifestation

6. a look or intonation expressing personal reaction, feeling, etc..

   a shocked expression.

   Synonyms:

   air, aspect

7. the quality or power of expressing an attitude, emotion, etc..

   a face that lacks expression; to read with expression.

8. the act of expressing or representing, as by symbols.

9. Mathematics. a symbol or a combination of symbols representing a value, relation, or the like.

10. Linguistics. the stylistic characteristics of an utterance (meaning ).

11. Linguistics. the system of verbal utterances specific to a language (content ).

12. the act of expressing or pressing out.

13. Computers. a combination of variables, constants, and functions linked by operation symbols and any required punctuation that describe a rule for calculating a value.

14. Genetics.

    1. the action of a gene in the production of a protein or a phenotype.

    2. expressivity.

Related Words

See phrase.

Other Word Forms

• expressional adjective
• expressionless adjective
• expressionlessly adverb
• preexpression noun
• reexpression noun
• superexpression noun

Etymology

Origin of expression

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Latin expressiōn- (stem of expressiō ) “a pressing out.” See express, -ion

from — Definition of expression. (n.d.). In dictionary.com. 

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gender expression

gender expression, noun

the way a person externally performs or signifies their gender identity, especially through habits of dressing, grooming, behaving, speaking, etc.

Etymology

Origin of gender expression
First recorded in 1970–75

from — Definition of gender expression. (n.d.). In dictionary.com. 

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Example sentences containing the phrase “gender expression”

“California law is unaffected by recent changes to federal policy and continues to provide safeguards against discrimination and harassment based on gender, gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation,” he wrote in a statement.
From Salon • Feb. 1, 2025

About one in five trans and nonbinary people who had looked for housing in the last five years believed they had been rejected because of their gender expression.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 19, 2024

The proposed amendment would add ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes and reproductive healthcare and autonomy to the list.
From Seattle Times • May 7, 2024

Students whose gender expression does not present as obviously male or female get questioned by other students, McAfee added, according to The Times.
From Salon • Feb. 22, 2024

At the same time, he noted, the code does prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity and religion.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 29, 2023

from — Definition of gender expression. (n.d.). In dictionary.com. 

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From the LGBTQ+Bar

Trump Anti-LGBTQ+ Executive Order Litigation Tracker

The National LGBTQ+ Bar is proud to share our new Trump Anti-LGBTQ+ Executive Order Litigation Tracker: a one-stop resource to locate up-to-date information on all pending litigation addressing anti-LGBTQ+ executive orders issued by the second Trump Administration.

To view cases challenging each anti-LGBTQ+ executive order, select the executive order and click on the cases listed below. You may also sort by topic and search the cases for specific key words, litigators, etc. Each case includes a “Reference” link that will connect you with more information, often housed on the websites of the case litigator(s).

The National LGBTQ+ Bar is profoundly grateful to the plaintiffs challenging these abhorrent anti-LGBTQ+ executive actions and to the litigators dedicating their professional expertise, skills, and passion for justice to ensure that all Americans can access the liberties promised by our nation’s Constitution and the rule of law. This resource is simply a compilation of relevant information regarding executive actions against the LGBTQ+ community and our allies. Full credit and gratitude for these legal challenges is owed to the brave attorneys, individuals, and organizations fighting for our community’s dignity and freedom.

If you have any questions or information you think should be included in this resource, please contact Mari Nemec at mari@lgbtqbar.org.

View all the cases here: Trump Anti-LGBTQ+ Executive Order Litigation Tracker

from — The National LGBTQ+ Bar Association and Foundation. (2025, December 1). Trump Anti-LGBTQ+ Executive Order Litigation Tracker – the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association. The National LGBTQ+ Bar Association. Retrieved April 6, 2026

 

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April 5, 2026
Hudson Valley, New York

image: rural graffiti “KELDER” © holly troy 2025

“Our list is most assuredly incomplete. “

from — Connelly, E. A. (2025, December 22). Federal Government’s Growing Banned Words List Is Chilling Act of Censorship. PEN America.