Chris Elston, known as Billboard Chris, has gained prominence in conservative circles for his activism against what he calls "gender ideology," generating both supporters and detractors. Recently, he became embroiled in a legal dispute in Australia for criticizing the appointment of a trans activist to a panel of the World Health Organization. The "pregnant man" emoji, approved by the Unicode Consortium in September 2021, has been the subject of Elston's petition, in which he has demanded U.S. President Donald Trump to sign an executive order to remove this emoji from mobile devices. His social media post sparked an intense public debate. Elston's measure has been supported by some users who believe the inclusion of these symbols reflects an imposition of gender ideology, while others criticize him for attacking the diversity and representation of trans and non-binary people. In the context of aggressive executive decisions by Trump since his return to the White House in January 2025, such as the ban on trans women competing in sports events and the elimination of federal funding for transition treatments for minors, Elston's petition fits into a broader debate about gender identities. The "pregnant man" emoji has been adopted by various digital platforms despite the controversy. Conservative figures have used it to criticize inclusion policies. Elston's request, seemingly trivial, reflects a growing cultural dispute over the representation of gender identities in the digital and legislative realms. The possibility that the Trump administration explores similar measures is not ruled out, which could trigger a considerable political battle over this issue.
