Story at a glance
- President Biden declared March 31 as Transgender Day of Visibility.
- He used the announcement to support the ratification of the Equality Act, which would protect civil rights on the basis of gender and sexual orientation.
President Biden issued a historic presidential proclamation Wednesday recognizing Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31, a day to recognize and honor the achievements and progress made by the transgender and gender nonbinary community in the U.S.
“Transgender Day of Visibility recognizes the generations of struggle, activism, and courage that have brought our country closer to full equality for transgender and gender non-binary people in the United States and around the world,” Biden said. “Their trailblazing work has given countless transgender individuals the bravery to live openly and authentically.”
He also acknowledged the marginalization and discrimination members of the transgender community face. LGBTQ+ advocates are currently fighting a slew of legislation restricting the rights of transgender minors in sports and health care, including more than a dozen bills banning transgender kids from participating in school sports. Biden also specifically referenced grim statistics that underscore the higher rates of violence transgender people face.
The proclamation marks a historic first that also highlights the difference between Biden and the previous president, who did not issue proclamations for Pride Month and often backed legal challenges against transgender rights.
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About half of transgender or nonbinary people will experience sexual violence at some point in their lifetimes, as well as instances of hate crimes, according to data from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).
Transgender women are particularly vulnerable to these threats, with Biden referring to this trend as “a stain on our Nation’s conscience.”
Biden also specified that homelessness is common among the transgender community, with 1 in 3 transgender individuals reporting having been homeless at some point in their lives.
He pledged to use the power of the federal government to support transgender rights, noting his executive order that worked to prevent discrimination due to gender identity.
Within his own administration, Biden appointed Rachel Levine, a transgender woman and the former Pennsylvania Secretary of Health to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Levine was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on March 25, making her the first openly transgender person to win a Senate nomination.
Biden concluded by advocating the passage of the Equality Act, a piece of legislation that would extend civil rights protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to fulfilling the promise of America for all Americans by stamping out discrimination and delivering freedom and equality for all,” Biden said.
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