In 2016, the first transgender athlete was named a member of Team USA, racing in the duathlon. In 2015, Catelyn Jenner made her public debut, shortly followed by the first transgender to be hired in the White House. In 2014, Laverne Cox made history by being the first transgender to appear on the cover of Time magazine, and soon after, the first to be nominated for an Emmy for her role in Orange is the New Black. These monumental successes for the transgender community shine brightly in the media’s eyes, only a short amount of time from the first American sex change back in 1952. Yet it seems the ever present struggles for the LGBTQ+ community come at a consistent pace in modern-day, Trump’s America.

Every step forward is accompanied by two steps back for those fighting for transgender rights. In February, Tonner Doll Company announced their newest doll, one modeled after 16-year-old Jazz Jennings. Named one of Time’s most influential teens, Jazz has been an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights since she was a mere six years old. Jazz spoke about the doll on Instagram, and how she is “still just a regular girl doll because that’s exactly what I am: a regular girl!” The Tonner CEO, Robert Tonner, first saw Jazz when she was featured on 20/20 with Barbara Walters and was captivated by her story. When he was asked about the labeling, Tonner says, “I may not even put the word ‘transgender’ on the box. This is a great kid, an advocate, an entrepreneur. One of TIME’s most influential teenagers. I’m doing the doll of a very accomplished kid.” This doll is a small win for the transgender community, but a very meaningful one. Jazz’s mother is thrilled with the doll, not only with how similar it looks to her daughter, but every transgender child will be represented in the toy aisle.

Now, a child will be able to see themselves in the toy aisle no matter what they look like or how they feel. However, a doll will not cover for not being able to use the restroom that coincides with students gender identity. Not more than a week later, Trump administration rescinded protections for transgender students that had allowed them to use bathrooms that the Obama Administration put into place. Against the advice of his highly-protested Education Secretary, Betsy DeVos, Trump chose the side of his Attorney General, Jeff Sessions. Betsy DeVos was placed in a tough situation over the withdrawing of the protections for these students. When placed in a situation where you are asked to go against your best judgment by the president, is sure to leave anyone in a predicament. “This is not merely a federal mandate, but a moral obligation no individual, school, district or state can abdicate,” DeVos said in a statement. “At my direction, the department’s Office for Civil Rights remains committed to investigating all claims of discrimination, bullying, and harassment against those who are most vulnerable in our schools.” Sean Spicer, the White House spokesman, stated, “The president has made it clear throughout the campaign that he’s a firm believer in states’ rights and that certain issues like this are not best dealt with at the federal level.”

The debate over LGTBQ+ rights seems to continue on the merry-go-round. A win for one, a loss for others, perhaps a win and a loss for the same section of the community. I think every member of the community and those who are just allies are well prepared for the ride to no longer spin backward.

For more about Jazz and her doll:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/susannahbreslin/2017/02/17/jazz-jennings-transgender-doll/#22b41d165cb5