Trump, Biden's Disagreement on Transgender Day of Visibility Falling Coinciding with Easter
While the White House condemns "cruel, hateful, and dishonest rhetoric," the Trump camp denounces "assault on the Christian faith."
Ankush Pandey
President Joe Biden and Republican challenger Donald Trump are reportedly in disagreement over the decision to have a day celebrating transgender people fall on Easter.
March 31 was declared Transgender Day of Visibility by Biden on Saturday in an effort to "honor the extraordinary courage and contributions of transgender Americans."
March 31 was first designated as Transgender Day of Visibility by Biden in 2021; however, this year's date falls on Easter Sunday, which is one of the holiest days in the Christian calendar.
The Trump team called Biden's statement "appalling" and said it was part of a "years-long assault on the Christian faith" in an acrimonious statement released on Saturday.
Karoline Leavitt, a spokesman for the Trump team, stated, "We call on Joe Biden's failing campaign and the White House to issue an apology to the millions of Catholics and Christians in America who think that tomorrow should solely be used to celebrate Jesus Christ's resurrection."
In addition, Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson attacked practicing Catholic Joe Biden, calling the statement "outrageous and abhorrent" and a betrayal of the "central tenet" of Easter.
Johnson stated, "The American people are taking note," in X statement.
Republicans are attempting to "divide and weaken our country with cruel, hateful, and dishonest rhetoric," responded White House spokesman Andrew Bates.
"As a Christian who celebrates Easter with family, President Biden stands for bringing people together and upholding the dignity and freedoms of every American," Bates said in a statement to multiple news outlets.
"President Biden will never abuse his faith for political purposes or for profit," Bates continued, seemingly alluding to Trump's suggestion that his followers purchase $59.99 "God Bless the USA" Bibles.
First Lady Jill Biden's communications director, Elizabeth Alexander, said that it was false to say that the Biden administration forbade religious symbols from being displayed at a student art competition because previous administrations—including Trump's—had employed the same uniform nondiscrimination language.
A major area of contention in the acrimonious culture war dividing Republicans and Democrats before of November's presidential election is transgender issues.
Biden has positioned himself as a champion for LGBTQ rights in the context of his campaign for increased justice and equality.
Trump has been reportedly pursuing conservative Christians who feel dissatisfied with the secular liberal culture.States in the US differ greatly in how they recognize transgender people.
Transgender individuals are able to identify as the gender they desire without requiring surgery or other medical interventions in a large number of states headed by Democrats.
Laws restricting participation in women's sports to biological females and outlawing gender-affirming treatment for kids have been passed by Republican-ruled states.
