The CEO of Lambda Legal, an LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, says they have long been preparing for Donald Trump’s arrival in the Oval Office. 

In an interview with The Advocate, Kevin Jennings said Trump is utilizing a “shock and awe” strategy, flooding the nation with outlandish moves all at once to intentionally overwhelm. But his team is not surprised. 

“At Lambda Legal, we knew this was coming. So we have neither been shocked nor awed by what’s happening,” Jennings assured. 

“We’ve seen this movie before,” he added. “We sued the Trump administration 14 times during his first presidency and won 12 of those cases — an 86 percent win rate. We’ve been preparing, and we’re ready.”

The organization is filing three lawsuits, he said, challenging Trump’s trans military ban, his executive order declaring there are only two sexes, and his crusade against DEI programs. 

Beating Trump at his own game is very possible, Jennings explained, but not if people allow him to exhaust them to the point of complacency. 

 “When I travel and talk to people, I hear two emotions—one of which I understand, and one of which I reject. The first emotion is depression. People are depressed because of all this hatefulness. The second is resignation, which is when people feel there’s nothing they can do. That’s wrong.”

Hopelessness, he said, is what the Trump administration wants us to feel. “Once we lose our faith that America can be better, we’ve lost everything. We’ve lost the battle.”

Jennings said one way for LGBTQ+ people to engage is to become plaintiffs in the organization’s upcoming suits. He said those impacted by Trump’s executive orders should contact Lambda Legal’s national legal help desk both for advice and to learn about becoming a plaintiff. “We can’t just say this law is bad. You have to have someone who has been harmed by a law to challenge it.” 

“We have lost the executive. We have lost the legislative,” he added. “Our only hope is the judicial branch.” He said more than half of sitting federal judges are Democrat appointees, which provides possibility for wins.

If being a plaintiff isn’t the right move, Jennings’ advice was to just do something to help. 

“Whether it’s testifying before your state legislature or just sending a postcard to your congressperson. What they want is for you to feel powerless. Don’t give them that.”