WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden faces criticism from Donald Trump’s campaign and religious conservatives for proclaiming March 31 – which this year corresponds to Easter Sunday – as “Transgender Day of Visibility.”
The Democratic president issued the proclamation Friday, calling on “all Americans to join us in elevating the lives and voices of transgender people across our country and to work to eliminate gender-based violence and discrimination.” “gender identity”.
But in 2024, the date of March 31 overlaps with Easter, one of the holiest celebrations in Christianity. Trump’s campaign accused Biden, a Catholic, of being insensitive to religion, and his fellow Republicans continued.
“We call on Joe Biden’s failed campaign and the White House to apologize to the millions of Catholics and Christians across America who believe that tomorrow is only one celebration: the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” said Karoline Leavitt, press secretary for the Trump campaign. She criticized what she called “the Biden administration’s years-long attack on the Christian faith.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said on social media that “the Biden White House has betrayed the central principle of Easter” and called the decision “outrageous and abhorrent.”
White House spokesman Andrew Bates said Republicans criticizing Biden “seek to divide and weaken our country with cruel, hateful and dishonest rhetoric.”
“As a Christian who celebrates Easter with family, President Biden stands for bringing people together and respecting the dignity and freedoms of every American,” Bates said. “President Biden will never abuse his faith for political gain or profit.”
Advocacy group GLAAD said in a statement that people can both celebrate Easter and show support for the trans community.
“The date of Easter changes every year, while Trans Day of Visibility is always recognized on March 31, but this year, right-wing politicians and talking heads are taking advantage of this coincidence to eclipse the hope and joy that represents Easter,” Sarah Kate said. Ellis, president and CEO of GLAAD.
Biden first issued a proclamation on visibility of transgender people in 2021. Proclamations are generally public policy statements made by the president. But this year, the overlap with Easter and high tensions over the presidential campaign have made the latest transgender proclamation a way for many Republicans to question the Democrat’s religious faith.
Biden devoutly attends Mass and considers his Catholic upbringing an essential part of his morality and identity. In 2021, it met Pope Francis at the Vatican and later told reporters that the pontiff called himself a “good Catholic” who should continue to take communion.
But Biden’s policy positions on same-sex marriage and his support for women’s rights to abortion put him at odds with many conservative Christians.
