The confluence this year of the dates for Easter and for the international Transgender Day of Visibility has resulted in an unusual religious controversy. President Biden issued a Proclamation (full text) designating today as Transgender Day of Visibility, saying in part:
Transgender Americans are part of the fabric of our Nation. 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. But extremists are proposing hundreds of hateful laws that target and terrify transgender kids and their families — silencing teachers; banning books; and even threatening parents, doctors, and nurses with prison for helping parents get care for their children. These bills attack our most basic American values,,,,
As reported by NBC News, this, along with the terms of a White House Easter Egg design contest for youths from National Guard families has sparked criticism from numerous Republican politicians. The flyer (full text) calling for youths to submit their Easter Egg designs includes in the lengthy instructions the following:
The Submission must not contain material that promotes bigotry, racism, hatred or harm against any group or individual or promotes discrimination based on race, gender, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age....
The Submission must not include any questionable content, religious symbols, overtly religious themes, or partisan political statements....
A statement yesterday (full text) from the Trump campaign called Biden's Proclamation "blasphemous" and said in part:
Sadly, these are just two more examples of the Biden Administration’s years-long assault on the Christian faith. We call on Joe Biden’s failing campaign and White House to issue an apology to the millions of Catholics and Christians across America who believe tomorrow is for one celebration only — the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
