I remember two years ago being gripped by grief over several prominent transgender youth deaths in America.

Leelah Alcorn, a young transgender girl decided to killed herself, rather than live another day in her conservative transphobic home.

Blake Brockington, previously elected the first trans homecoming king, committed suicide, writing in the note he left behind, "Even if I got better in my head, I would never want to continue on in a world like this."

I remember reports from friends and colleagues in America that they feared this would, in turn, lead to further deaths; that there needed to be a change to prevent this ever happening again.

Trump appears to change stance on transgender rights

This is why Barack Obamas’ guidance on trans students was so important. It went beyond being a directive on where to urinate; it was a clear message from the most powerful institution in America that if you mess with the basic rights of transgender youth, you will face a backlash.

Fast forward to 2017, and we are faced with Trump recalling this guidance. It’s a clear and open capitulation to those who might be alienated by the slightest glimmer of a socially progressive version of Trump. It is also a deliberate act of transphobia, cloaked in the right-libertarian rhetoric of allowing states to make choices that affect them, playing on conservative fears of federal intervention.

Throughout his campaign, we were assured by Trump that he saw fit for the transgender community to “use the bathroom they feel is appropriate”, and yet, this was never a position shared by his support base.

In any conversation around transgender rights and the battle over bathrooms, there was a pervasive trans-misogynist figure: a lurking man in a dress, ready to swoop upon poor innocent cisgender girls and subject them to unmentionable acts. Never, of course, acknowledging the fact that it is trans youth who are in danger of violence when using bathrooms.

The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

It speaks volumes as to his relationship with the LGBT community that Trump has chosen Mike Pence, former governor of Indiana, and a man primarily noted for his dogged and fanatical devotion to the denial of even the most basic rights of the LGBTQ community. A man who professed he wanted money for Aids treatment to be spent instead on conversion therapies: the same conversion therapies Leelah Alcorn was forced to endure, before eventually killing herself.

We may never know the full machinations of Trump’s White House, but it’s not hard to see that the Vice President has asserted some influence on the administration’s LGBT policy.