From his first day back in the White House in 2025, Donald Trump has used the language of “biological truth” to wage a federal war on trans existence—erasing legal recognition, censoring science and weaponising “common sense” to police bodies, identities and everyday life.

NZ First’s Gender Definition Bill aims to rewrite New Zealand law to define “woman” and “man” by birth sex, a move that would erase legal recognition for trans, non-binary, and intersex people. This piece breaks down what’s inside the bill, the politics behind it, and the community fightback rising to meet it.

2025 has been a year of both progress and backlash for non-binary rights. From legal wins in Germany and Australia to disturbing rollbacks in the U.S., this global overview explores the good, the bad, and the ugly — and why the fight for recognition, dignity, and freedom is far from over.