The White House has redoubled its efforts to honor Transgender Day of Visibility this Easter after sparking a firestorm of criticism from conservative lawmakers.
On Sunday, White House spokesman Andrew Bates drafted a statement addressing the backlash.
“As a Christian who celebrates Easter as a family, President Biden stands for bringing people together and defending the dignity and freedoms of all Americans,” Bates said.
‘Sadly, it is no surprise that politicians seek to divide and weaken our country with cruel, hateful and dishonest rhetoric. President Biden will never abuse his faith for political purposes or profit.”
March 31 has been designated to honor the transgender movement internationally since 2009. However, this year it coincides with the celebration of Holy Week.
The Biden administration has doubled down on honoring Transgender Day of Visibility on Easter, despite criticism from conservative politicians.
President Joe Biden issued a statement commemorating the international celebration on Saturday. He became the first president to issue a formal proclamation recognizing the event in 2021.
Bates’ comments followed a statement released by President Joe Biden on Saturday.
“On Transgender Day of Visibility, 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. “, He said.
‘Today we send a message to all transgender Americans: you are loved. You are heard. You are understood. You belong. “You are America, and I and my entire administration stand behind you.”
Biden was the first US president to issue a formal proclamation recognizing the event in 2021.
With the holiday coinciding with Easter during its 15th year, Biden’s comments drew criticism from conservatives, including former President Donald Trump.
Trump’s national press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, criticized the proclamation as “appalling and insulting.”
He claimed the president’s announcement was evidence of the Biden administration’s “years-long attack on the Christian faith.”
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Trump’s vice presidential candidate, lashed out with her own statement on X, formerly Twitter.
‘Joe Biden banned ‘religious-themed’ eggs from the White House children’s Easter egg design contest, AND announced that tomorrow is ‘National Transgender Day of Visibility.’ Did you forget that tomorrow is Easter, Resurrection Sunday? she wrote.
“Joe Biden and his White House have made it clear that people of faith, particularly Christians and our biblical views, have no place in their America.”
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, one of Trump’s potential vice president picks, called the proclamation an example of the administration’s “year-long attack on the Christian faith.”
Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy called the proclamation “a slap in the face to all Americans.”
He admitted in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, that he was Hindu, but said: “We are in the middle of a war in this country.”
Former President Donald Trump lashed out through his national press secretary, calling the statement “appalling and insulting.”
His comments referenced an invitation from the American Egg Board regarding the White House’s annual Easter egg drop.
The invitation asked that children from National Guard families submit artwork that would be painted on eggs, but prohibited “any questionable content, religious symbols, overtly religious themes, or partisan political statements.”
Responding to criticism, White House deputy assistant to the president Elizabeth Alexander claimed the invitation’s language was standard, and supporters noted that similar phrases were also used during the Trump administration.
Still, other conservative politicians continued to echo Noem’s views, such as failed Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
“Joe Biden declaring the holiest day for Christians ‘Transgender Day of Visibility’ is a slap in the face to all Americans, regardless of their faith,” he wrote on X. “Now the White House is banning any religious symbolism on Easter eggs.’
Ramaswamy ended the tweet by admitting that he was a Hindu, not a Christian, but stated, “We are in the middle of a war in this country.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a devout Christian who previously came under fire for his comments on gay marriage, called the proclamation “abhorrent.”
‘The Biden White House has betrayed the central tenet of Easter, which is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Banning sacred truth and tradition—while proclaiming Easter Sunday as ‘Transgender Day’—is outrageous and abhorrent,” he professed.
Pastor Raphael Warnock, a Democratic senator from Georgia, criticized Johnson’s comments during an appearance on CNN’s ‘State of the Union’.
‘Jesus centered the marginalized. He focused on the poor. And in a time like this, we need voices, particularly voices of faith, that use our faith not as a weapon to defeat other people, but as a bridge to unite us all,” he stated.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a devout Christian, claimed the White House had “betrayed the central tenet of Easter” and was criticized for his comments by Pastor Raphael Warnock on CNN.
Caitlyn Jenner, who underwent gender reassignment surgery in 2017, joined the speech
“The only thing you should declare on this day is ‘HE is risen,'” the former Olympian ranted on social media.
Pastor Raphael Warnock, a Democratic senator from Georgia, criticized Johnson’s comments during an appearance on CNN’s ‘State of the Union’.
‘Jesus centered the marginalized. He focused on the poor. And in a time like this, we need voices, particularly voices of faith, that use our faith not as a weapon to defeat other people, but as a bridge to unite us all,” he stated.
Aside from those in the political sphere, some pop culture figures also spoke.
Reality star Caitlyn Jenner wrote: “I am absolutely disgusted that Joe Biden, a self-proclaimed devout Catholic, declared the Most Holy Day of Holiness as Transgender Day of Visibility.” The only thing you should declare on this day is ‘HE is risen’.
Jenner came out as transgender in 2015 and underwent gender reassignment surgery in 2017.
The former Olympian tried to run against California Governor Gavin Newsom in a special election four years later, claiming the Republican Party needed more “inclusivity.”
Among the supporters of Biden’s message was the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, the country’s top diplomat.
“Transgender Day of Visibility is a celebration of the courage and resilience of transgender, non-binary and gender non-confirming people who exist in every country and culture around the world,” Blinken said in a statement on Sunday.
‘On this day, the United States recognizes the achievements and progress that trans people have made in the global fight for equality and reaffirms its commitment to supporting equality, inclusion, and the full recognition of the human rights of transgender people.’
Remembrance Day is celebrated on March 31 each year and has been since 2009. It was created by Rachel Crandall-Crocker, executive director of the advocacy group Transgender Michigan.
The holiday is “a day to celebrate the lives and contributions of trans people, while also calling attention to the poverty, discrimination and violence faced by the community,” according to the nonprofit GLAAD, which monitors trans people. media.