Biden Appoints Imam To USCIRF

Last Friday, President Biden appointed Mohamed Hag Magid to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. Imam Magid, among other things, is Executive Religious Director of All Dulles Area Muslim Society Center, is Chairman of International Interfaith Peace Corps and is the former President of the Islamic Society of North America. USCIRF is comprised of 9 commissioners, 3 of whom are appointed by the President.

President Issues Executive Order On Equality For LGBTQI+ Individuals

President Biden yesterday issued an Executive Order on Advancing Equality for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Individuals. (Full text). The Order sets out a long list of initiatives to be undertaken by various Cabinet departments and federal agencies. These include using federal authority to counter state laws which limit access to medically necessary care, reducing the risk of exposure to conversion therapy, and strengthening non-discrimination protections.  The Order also focuses on support for LGBTQI+ individuals in schools, housing programs, family counseling and health care.

President's Memorial Day Proclamation

Today is Memorial Day. Last week, President Biden issued a Proclamation titled Prayer for Peace, Memorial Day 2022 (full text) which reads in part:

In honor and recognition of all of our fallen service members, the Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 11, 1950, as amended (36 U.S.C. 116), has requested that the President issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe each Memorial Day as a day of prayer for permanent peace and designating a period on that day when the people of the United States might unite in prayer and reflection.  The Congress, by Public Law 106-579, has also designated 3:00 p.m. local time on that day as a time for all Americans to observe, in their own way, the National Moment of Remembrance.

Biden Issues Greetings To Buddhists Celebrating Vesak

Earlier this week, President Biden issued a Statement (full text) extending warm wishes to Buddhists in the United States and around the world celebrating Vesak. The Statement says in part:

This sacred day is a time to reflect on the Buddha’s teachings, including the need to work for peace and justice, recognize our common humanity, respect and preserve the nature that surrounds us, and cultivate humility and compassion.

Vesak was celebrated this year on May 16.

Today Is National Day Of Prayer

Yesterday President Biden issued a Proclamation (full text) declaring today to be National Day of Prayer. Federal law, 36 USC §169h, provides:

The President shall set aside and proclaim the first Thursday in May in each year as a National Day of Prayer, on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals.

The President's Proclamation reads in part:

On this day, we recognize the healing power of prayer, especially as we recover from the trauma and loss of the COVID‑19 pandemic.  Today we find ourselves in a moment of renewal — of lives saved, of new jobs created, and of new hope for rebuilding America.  Today is also a moment of reflection when we are called to address some of the greatest challenges humanity has ever faced — saving our planet from the existential threat of climate change; responding to attacks on democracy at home and abroad; and living up to our Nation’s promise of liberty, justice, and equality for all.

Bidens Extend Wishes for Eid Mubarak To Muslims Around The World

The Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr began at sundown last night. President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden issued a Statement (full text) yesterday extending warmest wishes and Eid Mubarak to those celebrating the end of Ramadan. The Statement says in part:

This year, as we mark Eid al-Fitr, we hold in our hearts the millions of displaced persons and refugees around the globe who are spending this sacred holiday separated from their families and unsure of their future, but still hoping for a brighter tomorrow. As a nation we must always keep faith with those seeking a better life, and uphold our commitment to serving as a beacon of hope for oppressed people around the world. And, Muslims across the United States celebrate Eid, let us renew our dedication to our foundational commitment to respecting all faiths and beliefs.

The President and First Lady later today will host a reception in the East Room to celebrate Eid.

UPDATE: Here are the President's remarks at the White House Eid reception.

President Declares May "Jewish American Heritage Month"

President Biden today issued a Proclamation (full text) declaring May 2022 as Jewish American Heritage Month. The Proclamation reads in part:

The Jewish American story, and the story of our Nation as a whole, is fueled by faith, resilience, and hope.  It is a story defined by a firm belief in possibilities, the resolve to make real the promise of America for all Americans, and a commitment to perfecting our Union, heeding the timeless words of Rabbi Tarfon, the first-century scholar who taught “It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you at liberty to neglect it.”

An interesting sidelight: Typically Presidential Proclamations end with the date of the Proclamation. The year is routinely set out, for example, as: "in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-two, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-sixth." The Jewish American Heritage Month Proclamation omits the phrase "in the year of our Lord, recognizing the Christian nature of that reference.

Biden Releases Statement On Easter

President Biden earlier today released a Statement on Easter (full text) wishing a Happy Easter to all. The statement reads in part:

On this day and each day, we pray for ... peace, freedom, and the basic dignity and respect for all of God’s children. As we look ahead with His blessing, may we share a common hope for the future, reaffirm love and compassion for one another, and cherish the blessing of the dawn of new possibilities.

White House Issues Two Holiday Statements

The White House this morning issued two holiday statements. It announced (full text) the theme and activities for for the 2022 Easter Egg Roll to be held on April 18, saying in part:

The White House announced today the full program of activities for the 2022 White House Easter Egg Roll, a tradition dating back to 1878.  A teacher for more than 30 years, First Lady Jill Biden created this year’s event theme, “EGGucation!,” with the South Lawn to be transformed into a school community, full of fun educational activities for children to enjoy.

President Biden also issued a Statement on Passover (full text), saying in part:

This Passover, we hold in our hearts the people of Ukraine and those around the world whose heroic stand against tyranny inspires us all. The enduring spirit of this holiday continues to teach us that with faith, the driest desert can be crossed, the mightiest sea can be split, and hope never stops marching towards the promised land. 

White House Announces Initiatives To Support Transgender Americans

President Biden this week issued a Proclamation (full text) recognizing yesterday as "Transgender Day of Visibility." The Proclamation says in part:

To everyone celebrating Transgender Day of Visibility, I want you to know that your President sees you.  The First Lady, the Vice President, the Second Gentleman, and my entire Administration see you for who you are — made in the image of God and deserving of dignity, respect, and support....

In the past year, hundreds of anti-transgender bills in States were proposed across America, most of them targeting transgender kids.  The onslaught has continued this year.  These bills are wrong.  Efforts to criminalize supportive medical care for transgender kids, to ban transgender children from playing sports, and to outlaw discussing LGBTQI+ people in schools undermine their humanity and corrode our Nation’s values.

This was followed yesterday with the issuance by the White House of a lengthy Fact Sheet (full text) outlining the Administration's efforts to advance equality and visibility of transgender, non-binary and gender non-conforming Americans. Among the new initiatives announced are allowing "X" to be selected as a gender marker on passport applications and various other federal forms.  The Fact Sheet also says:

In recent months, multiple states have removed critical information about mental health resources for LGBTQI+ youth from official state websites. Transgender youth often face significant barriers in accessing supportive resources, and are at greater risk of attempted suicide. In response, the Department of Health and Human Services released a new website that offers resources for transgender and LGBTQI+ youth, their parents, and providers. These resources include best practices for affirming an LGBTQI+ child, and information about suicide prevention services.

Bidens Extend Greetings For Nowruz

Yesterday, President Biden and Jill Biden issued a statement extending New Years greetings for Nowruz. The Statement (full text) reads in part:

Jill and I extend our best wishes to all who are celebrating Nowruz in the United States and around the world today — including in Iran and across the Middle East, in Central and South Asia, in the Caucuses, and in Europe....

That spirit of new beginnings and the joy of Nowruz is reflected in our own Haft-Sin table at the White House, representing our hopes for the new year.

White House Celebrates One Year Of Faith-Based Partnerships

The White House yesterday issued Fact Sheet: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Celebrates First Anniversary of the Reestablishment of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, which reads in part:

Our country has made great progress thanks to neighborhood partnerships and compassionate leaders of all faiths and beliefs, whether it was hosting vaccination clinics, preventing evictions, helping to ensure that children get back to school and workers get jobs, or countless other acts of service. The Biden-Harris Administration is also working tirelessly to advance policies promoting religious equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility and protecting the fundamental right to practice faith without fear, especially in light of the troubling rise of antisemitic, xenophobic, and bigoted attacks against people of faith—targeting synagogues, predominantly Black churches, and Muslim and Sikh communities, among other communities. In addition, the Administration has prioritized the cultivation of a spirit of welcome for people of all religious, political, and ideological stripes; a commitment to treating everyone with equal respect and dignity; and the hard but essential work of building bridges across differences in background and beliefs.

The Fact Sheet goes on to list 40 achievements during the past year that advance these partnerships and policies.

National Prayer Breakfast Held Yesterday

President Biden spoke yesterday at the National Prayer Breakfast (full text of remarks) which, this year was held at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. Vice-President Harris also delivered remarks.  C-Span has video and a transcript of the full breakfast. A day before the Breakfast, Sen. Chris Coons, one of the Breakfast organizers, told Religion News Service that this year's Breakfast is intended to be a "positive reset" of the 70-year old event which, in recent years, has become controversial.  This year's breakfast attendees were limited to members of Congress, speakers and spouses.  The keynote speaker this year was Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative and author  of the book “Just Mercy.”

Today Is International Holocaust Remembrance Day

Today is International Holocaust Remembrance Day as designated by United Nations Resolution 60/7 (full text), adopted by the General Assembly in 2005.  January 27 is the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Yesterday, President Biden announced the names of 12 individuals he intends to appoint to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council.  As chair, he will appoint Stuart Eizenstat.

Biden and Harris Issue Statement In Support Of Roe v. Wade

Last Saturday (Jan. 22) was the 49th anniversary of the decision in Roe v. Wade that established a constitutional right to abortion.  On Saturday, the White House issued a statement from President Biden and Vice President Harris (full text), saying in part:

The Biden-Harris Administration strongly supports efforts to codify Roe, and we will continue to work with Congress on the Women’s Health Protection Act. All people deserve access to reproductive health care regardless of their gender, income, race, zip code, health insurance status, immigration status, disability, or sexual orientation. And the continued defense of this constitutional right is essential to our health, safety, and progress as a nation.

We must ensure that our daughters and granddaughters have the same fundamental rights that their mothers and grandmothers fought for and won on this day, 49 years ago....

Religious Freedom Day, January 16, 2022

Largely lost in a flood of other developments, yesterday (January 16) was Religious Freedom Day, the anniversary of the adoption of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom by the Virginia General Assembly in 1786. President Biden last week issued a Proclamation (full text) officially marking the day.

Biden Resubmits Lipstadt's Nomination As Special Envoy to Monitor Antisemitism

With Congress beginning a new session, the nominations which the President sent to the Senate last year need to be resubmitted if the Senate has failed to act on them. On Tuesday, President Biden resubmitted a large number of nominations. Among them was the nomination of Deborah Lipstadt to be Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, with the rank of Ambassador. Lipstadt's nomination was originally sent to the Senate last July. (See prior posting.) According to a CNN report, Senate Democrats accuse Republicans of stalling the nomination.  Republicans on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee have refused so far to agree to hold hearings on her nomination. This is variously attributed to a broad effort to stall President Biden's nominees, or more narrowly to concerns by Foreign Relations Committee member Ron Johnson about tweets from Lipstadt last March critical of him. Lipstadt is a professor of Modern Jewish History and Holocaust Studies at Emory University.

Today Is International Human Rights Day

Today, December 10, is United Nations Human Rights Day, marking the 73rd anniversary of the General Assembly's adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This year's theme is "Reducing inequalities, advancing human rights". Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides:

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Yesterday, President Biden issued a Proclamation (full text) declaring today Human Rights Day and the beginning of Human Rights Week.

President Biden Issues Hanukkah Message

President Biden issued a statement (full text) today wishing everyone a Happy Hanukah, and saying in part:

At its core, Hanukkah recounts a story at the heart of the human spirit – one that is inherently Jewish and undeniably American. It commemorates how even the most fragile flame can sustain a tradition and nourish the soul of a people. It teaches us that even a little bit of light, wherever it is found, can dispel the darkness and illuminate a path forward. And it reminds us that whether it is the Holy Temple in Jerusalem or the temple of our democracy, nothing broken or profaned is beyond repair.

Biden Issues Thanksgiving Day 2021 Proclamation

President Biden this week issued a Proclamation (full text) declaring today "a National Day of Thanksgiving" and saying in part:

Thanksgiving provides us with a time to reflect on our many blessings — from God, this Nation, and each other.  We are grateful for these blessings, even — and especially — during times of challenge.

...  Just as 400 years ago when the Pilgrims were able to celebrate a successful first harvest thanks to the generosity and support of the Wampanoag, today we too express our gratitude for those who have helped us get through this difficult past year.