Biden Turns Easter Sunday Into ‘Transgender Day’
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – U.S. President Joe Biden has turned Easter Sunday into a “Transgender Day of Visibility.”
As many American Christians prepared to focus on the resurrection of Christ, Biden instead said he wanted to “call upon all Americans to join us in lifting up the lives and voices of transgender people throughout our Nation.”
It was crucial, he declared, “to work toward eliminating violence and discrimination based on gender identity.”
In his proclamation seen by Worthy News, he said that on March 31, 2024, “we honor the extraordinary courage and contributions of transgender Americans and reaffirm our Nation’s commitment to forming a more perfect Union — where all people are created equal and treated equally throughout their lives.”
In his proclamation, Biden stressed that he is “proud to have appointed transgender leaders to my Administration and to have ended the ban on transgender Americans serving openly in our military.”
Critics have said that integrating transgender people into the army could undermine the discipline and strength it needs in times of war and security challenges with major military powers China and Russia.
Yet Biden made clear he is “proud that my Administration has stood for justice from the start, working to ensure that the LGBTQI+ community can live openly, in safety, with dignity and respect.”
HISTORIC ORDERS
He added that he had signed “historic Executive Orders” that strengthen their “civil rights protections in housing, employment, health care, education, the justice system, and more.”
And, “I am proud to have signed the Respect for Marriage Act into law, ensuring every American can marry the person they love. “
Transgender Americans, he argued, “are part of the fabric of our Nation. Whether serving their communities or in the military, raising families, or running businesses, they help America thrive. They deserve, and are entitled to, the same rights and freedoms as every other American, including the most fundamental freedom to be their true selves.”
He accused “extremists” of proposing hundreds of “hateful laws” that target and terrify transgender kids and their families — silencing teachers, banning books.”
He said they are “even threatening parents, doctors, and nurses with prison for helping parents get care for their children. These bills attack our most basic American values: the freedom to be yourself, the freedom to make your own health care decisions, and even the right to raise your own child.”
However, several Christian groups and parents have expressed concerns about LGBTQI+ education at schools for minors. “It is no surprise that the bullying and discrimination that transgender Americans face is worsening our Nation’s mental health crisis, leading half of transgender youth to consider suicide in the past year,” Biden said.
“At the same time, an epidemic of violence against transgender women and girls, especially women and girls of color, continues to take too many lives. Let me be clear: All of these attacks are un-American and must end. No one should have to be brave just to be themselves. “
STOPPING BULLYING
At the same time, “my Administration is working to stop the bullying and harassment of transgender children and their families. The Department of Justice has taken action to push back against extreme and un-American State laws targeting transgender youth and their families, and the Department of Justice is partnering with law enforcement and community groups to combat hate and violence,” Biden added.
He urged any LGBTQI+ young person in need to “call “988” and press “3” to speak with a counselor trained to support them” through “our nationwide suicide and crisis lifeline.” Biden said, “We are making public services more accessible for transgender Americans, including with more inclusive passports and easier access to Social Security benefits.”
There is much more to do, he explained. “I continue to call on the Congress to pass the Equality Act, to codify civil rights protections for all LGBTQI+ Americans.”
Biden’s proclamation comes a week after he signed a $1.2 trillion spending bill into law, but not without regrets: the White House expressed outrage over a provision tucked inside the legislation that will prevent his U.S. State Department from flying Black Lives Matter or gay pride ‘rainbow’ flags at foreign embassies.
“President Biden believes it was inappropriate to abuse the process that was essential to keep the government open by including this policy targeting LGBTQI+ Americans,” the White House said.
The ban applies to all U.S. State Department buildings and all flags other than a select list that includes the American flag and state, tribal, and territorial banners, federal agencies, and the banners honoring the Vietnam War’s prisoners of war and missing in action.
It was among several measures Republicans managed to secure in the massive spending bill to roll back what they view as an overbearing “woke” agenda by the Biden administration.
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