Biden Denies Declaring Trans Day Of Visibility

President Joe Biden denied naming Sunday the Transgender Day of Visibility the same day as Easter Sunday after comments from House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA). The president’s denial could signal a change in policy or that he had not read the original proclamation issued in his name by his staff.

The president was asked about naming Sunday the transgender memorial on Monday. He told the reporter that he “didn’t do that.”

When informed that the assertion came from Johnson, Biden said that he was “thoroughly uninformed.”

Biden puts out a declaration that literally says "Do hereby proclaim" about trans day of visibility and every fact-checker is still wagging their finger.

No one cares that the day already existed. The point is that he proclaimed it from the WH. Do I need to write it in crayon?

— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) April 1, 2024

The president’s office released a proclamation with his name on it Saturday declaring Sunday the Transgender Day of Visibility.

“NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 31, 2024, as Transgender Day of Visibility. I call upon all Americans to join us in lifting up the lives and voices of transgender people throughout our Nation and to work toward eliminating violence and discrimination based on gender identity,” the statement read.

The president’s X account also stated that same thing, reading that the White House celebrated the “joy, strength and absolute courage of some of the bravest people I know.”

“Today, we show millions of transgender and nonbinary Americans that we see them, they belong and they should be treated with dignity and respect,” read Biden’s social media statement.

Biden’s decision received immediate criticism from conservatives, who noted the day overlapped with the holiest Christian holiday.

Biden’s statements were backed by a number of other prominent Democrats. Vice President Kamala Harris wrote that on Sunday “we celebrate transgender and nonbinary Americans. Their courage has given countless others strength, but no one should have to be brave just to be themselves.”

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) wrote that as “transgender Americans continue to face hate and harassment, it is more important than ever to stand with the trans community.”