President Biden faces intense backlash for designating March 31, this year’s Easter Sunday, as Transgender Visibility Day, but the White House has issued a response supporting the president’s statement. .
White House press secretary Andrew Bates said in a statement that critics of Biden’s message of inclusivity are seeking to further divide the country.
“As a Christian who celebrates Easter with my family, President Biden is in a position to unite people and protect the dignity and freedoms of all Americans,” Bates said in a statement. “Sadly, it is no surprise that politicians seek to divide and weaken our country with cruel, hateful, and dishonest rhetoric. Never abuse your faith.”
March 31st has been designated as an international day to commemorate the transgender movement since 2009, but this year it falls on Easter Sunday, one of the most important days for Christians celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. .
Biden criticized on social media after announcing transgender release date on Easter Sunday
President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden attend the annual Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House on April 10, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Celal Gunes/Anadolu Agency, Getty Images, File)
“On Transgender Visibility Day, we celebrate the extraordinary courage and contributions of transgender Americans and our commitment to building a more perfect union in which all people are created equal and treated equally throughout life. We reaffirm our resolve,” the White House said in a statement. Saturday said.
“Today we send a message to all transgender Americans: You are loved. Your voice is heard. You are understood. You belong. You belong. It’s America, and the entire administration and I are rooting for you.” “Therefore, I, Joseph R. Biden, Jr., President of the United States, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby declare as of March 31, 2024: Day of visibility.”
Biden announced Saturday that Transgender Visibility Day will be March 31, the same day as Easter this year. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
After the announcement, prominent Christians, politicians, and social media commenters unleashed a barrage of criticism against Biden and his administration.
Former President Trump called for an immediate apology to millions of Christians and Catholics, and national spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt called Biden’s declaration an example of the Biden administration’s “long-standing assault on the Christian faith.” Ta.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) accused the Biden administration of betraying the meaning of Easter Sunday after the White House also banned religious egg designs at Easter art events. The Easter art event is part of the White House, as is the annual Easter Egg Roll. House Easter Traditions.
“The Biden White House has betrayed the central tenet of Easter: the Resurrection of Jesus Christ,” Johnson wrote on X. “To ban sacred truths and traditions while simultaneously declaring Easter Sunday as ‘Transgender Day’ is outrageous.” It’s abhorrent. The American people are paying attention.”
Franklin Graham, a prominent Christian evangelist and son of the late Billy Graham, wrote that Biden and his administration have “little respect” for God.
“This shows once again how little respect President Biden and his administration have for God,” Graham wrote in part. “On the most important day in the Christian calendar, when churches around the world celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, who died and bled for the sins of mankind, the Biden administration is using this opportunity to condemn the sins of humanity. To flaunt, to glorify sin, to celebrate sin.”
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves called Biden’s proclamation a “shocking” and “deliberate attempt” to insult Christians across the country.
Biden unveils Easter egg roll theme on White House lawn
“President Biden has declared Easter Sunday to be Transgender Day,” Reeves wrote. “This is a deliberate attempt to insult and ridicule Christians across the United States. Shocking but not surprising, Mississippi proudly celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the forgiveness of sinners. Masu.”
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem echoed Tate’s sentiments, writing that President Biden has made it clear that people of faith “have no place in America.”
“Joe Biden and his White House have made it clear that people of faith, especially Christians and those of us who believe in the Bible, have no place in his America. We tweeted on November 5th @realdonaldtrump We must change this situation by electing the
Former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy criticized Biden in a post on I’m surprised you came up with it,” he wrote.
Former Olympic decathlon gold medalist Caitlyn Jenner wrote in X: “The only thing to proclaim on this day is: He is risen.”
“I am absolutely disgusted that Joe Biden, who calls himself a devout Catholic, declared the holiest day of the year to be Transgender Visibility Day,” Jenner wrote. “All you have to declare on this day is, “He is risen.”
America’s top diplomat, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, issued a statement of his own on Sunday affirming that Transgender Visibility Day is a “celebration” of the “courage and resilience” of transgender people, but ” It is clear that there are still many challenges ahead.” What must be done. “
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in his statement on Sunday that Transgender Visibility Day was a “celebration” of the “courage and resilience” of transgender people, but said: “There is still much work to do. That is clear.” (Jonathan Ernst/Pool photo via AP, file)
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FOX News’ Sarah Rumpf-Witten, Haley Ciesin and Anders Hagström contributed to this report.
