A recent policy shift in the United States, long-sought by president Trump’s religious and socially conservative supporters, defines gender as a person’s biological sex.

The change overturns Obama era protections for transgender people against discrimination in the healthcare system.

Blair Curtis, a Trans rights activist from Corner Brook, says what’s happening in the U.S. isn’t right and heartbreaking to hear.

He says he can’t even imagine what gender diverse people in the United States are feeling right now. Curtis says his top surgery was lifesaving because he couldn’t deal with the body dysphoria that came with having a chest when he knew it didn’t belong on his body. He says trans people might not even receive any care as doctors can be charged for taking care of trans patients.

Meanwhile, a Supreme Court expansion of Transgender rights could undercut Donald Trump’s restrictions.

The ruling focused on employment discrimination; however scholars say its language could force expanded civil rights protections in other areas of daily life such as education, healthcare and housing.