President Joe Biden proclaimed Easter Sunday 2024 to be “transgender day of visibility,” which annually falls on March 31.
The White House posted the proclamation Friday, to recognize “the extraordinary courage and contributions of transgender Americans” on the annual “transgender day of visibility.” Easter Sunday falls on March 31 of 2024. Transgender activist Rachel Crandall created the day in 2010, according to GLAAD, an LGBTQ advocacy organization. (RELATED: Devout Catholic Joe Biden Makes No Mention Of Ash Wednesday For First Time During Presidency)
“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,” the president wrote in his proclamation.
“I am 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,” the proclamation continued.
The proclamation was met with backlash online as social media users criticized the Catholic president for disrespecting Christians.
“The White House also officially designated Easter Sunday as ‘Transgender Day of Visibility,'” Kaylee McGee White, Restoring America Editor for the Washington Examiner, posted on Twitter. “Such utter contempt for Christians and their beliefs.”
The White House also officially designated Easter Sunday as “Transgender Day of Visibility.” Such utter contempt for Christians and their beliefs. https://t.co/grIfswYHZq
— Kaylee McGhee White (@KayleeDMcGhee) March 30, 2024
“Tomorrow, hundreds of millions of Christians will commemorate Easter Sunday and the Resurrection of Jesus. Our ‘devout Catholic’ president, meanwhile, will be celebrating a different religion, with the false resurrection of ‘transgender identity,’ Managing editor of the Daily Signal Tyler O’Neil wrote on twitter.
The White House responded to the backlash regarding the proclamation in a statement to the Daily Caller.
“As a Christian who celebrates Easter with family, President Biden stands for bringing people together and upholding the dignity and freedoms of every American,” White House spokesperson Andrew Bates told the Daily Caller in a statement. “Sadly, it’s unsurprising politicians are seeking to divide and weaken our country with cruel, hateful and dishonest rhetoric. President Biden will never abuse his faith for political purposes or for profit.”
Tomorrow, hundreds of millions of Christians✝️ will commemorate Easter Sunday and the Resurrection of Jesus. Our “devout Catholic” president, meanwhile, will be celebrating a different religion, with the false resurrection of “transgender identity.” pic.twitter.com/FturLMVrLp
— Tyler O’Neil (@Tyler2ONeil) March 30, 2024
The White House also faced backlash after news that they banned religious Easter eggs from its annual Easter Egg Roll resurfaced. For the White House’s “Celebrating National Guard Families” art contest, the administration wrote that egg designs cannot feature any “religious symbols” on the Christian holiday.
However, the rule against religious symbolism has been longstanding, dating back decades, and was not modified by the Biden administration.
Children were instead asked to decorate an egg template with “a snapshot of their life — a favorite activity, scenery in your state, your military family, a day-in-your life, etc,” according to the White House flyer.
Not only did the Biden’s ban all religious-designs from the White House Easter egg art contest but he also proclaimed this Easter Sunday as a “Transgender Day of Visibility”
Your Catholic President ladies and gentlemen. pic.twitter.com/UuktVYIUWz
— Savanah Hernandez (@sav_says_) March 30, 2024
The Office of the First Lady responded to the backlash over the banning of religious symbols in a tweet, writing that the language for the competition standards is consistent with previous years.
“Fyi on all the misleading swirl re White House and Easter: the American Egg Board flyer’s standard non-discrimination language requesting artwork has been used for the last 45 years, across all Dem & Republican Admins—for all WH Easter Egg Rolls —[including] previous Administration’s,” Elizabeth Alexander, communications director for the first lady, tweeted.
*Fyi on all the misleading swirl re White House and Easter: the American Egg Board flyer’s standard non-discrimination language requesting artwork has been used for the last 45 years, across all Dem & Republican Admins—for all WH Easter Egg Rolls —incl previous Administration’s.
— Elizabeth Alexander (@EAlexander46) March 30, 2024
“Transgender Americans are part of the fabric of our Nation,” the president’s proclamation stated. “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.”