President Biden has sparked outrage by declaring this Easter Sunday will also officially become Transgender Day of Visibility.
The White House doubled up backlash as it also banned religious imagery in submissions from children of military families taking part in the traditional Easter Egg Roll event, as critics branded the moves an ‘attack on Christianity.’
Former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy led the charge against the move, as he mused ‘I wonder how (Biden) came up with that date’ by having Easter Sunday clash with the transgender tribute day.
Others said it was a ‘huge insult to Christians’ – a charge also levied at the White House after it banned religious submissions for its Easter festivities.
While March 31 has become the official Transgender Day of Visibility, Easter Sunday will not fall on that day again for at least the next decade.
The White House has sparked outrage by banning children from submitting Easter Egg designs for this year’s Easter Egg Roll with any ‘questionable content,’ including political statements and religious imagery
Children take part in the 2023 White House Easter Egg Roll event, which has been held on the South Lawn for almost 50 years
An egg designed by children of members of the military adorning the East Colonnade of the White House ahead of the White House Easter Egg Roll, Thursday, March 28, 2024
As he declared Easter Sunday would also be ‘Transgender Day of Visibility’, Biden, a devout Catholic, also delivered a scathing attack on Republicans while stressing that ‘transgender Americans are part of the fabric of our nation.’
‘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,’ he said in a press release.
‘At the same time, an epidemic of violence against transgender women and girls, especially women and girls of color, continues to take too many lives. Let me be clear: All of these attacks are un-American and must end.
‘Today, we send a message to all transgender Americans: You are loved. You are heard. You are understood. You belong. You are America, and my entire Administration and I have your back.’
The move quickly sparked backlash, as critics said they ‘don’t even have words for this.’
Republican Senate candidate Jim Banks branded it an ‘absolute disgrace’, adding: ‘What a slap in the face to hundreds of millions of Christians in America and across the globe. Voters won’t forget this in November.’
It comes as the White House drew controversy before the Easter Egg Roll tradition, which is set to be held on Monday in an event that dates back to 1877.
President Biden sparked backlash by declaring Easter Sunday to be a national ‘Transgender Day of Visibility’, with critics feeling he is blatantly overlooking the religious holiday
Former President Donald Trump delivers remarks from the Truman Balcony ahead of the 139th Easter Egg Roll event at the White House in 2017
Part of this year’s Easter Egg Roll tradition is centering on ‘Celebrating our Military Families’, and will include submissions of festively designed eggs painted by children of National Guard troops.
However, the National Guard families taking part in the traditional Easter Egg Roll event won’t see their submissions counted if they include any ‘questionable content,’ including ‘religious symbols, overtly religious themes, or partisan political statements.’
Children will also be banned from designing their eggs with anything 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 move sparked backlash, with many feeling the religious foundation of the Easter holiday meant religious symbols should be welcome at the event.
Conservative policy researcher Jeremy Carl tweeted that it shows the president and Democrats ‘hate America’s heritage… and they show it again and again.’
‘The war on Christianity continues,’ said another critic, as others pointed out: ‘We need to remind the White House that Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.’
Others noted that Biden often made a point of his Catholic faith on the campaign trail, while conservative influencers ‘the Hodge twins’ added: ‘I guess Easter is cancelled this year.’