President Biden proclaimed Mar. 31 "Transgender Day of Visibility."
The proclamation follows a series of efforts from the Biden administration to highlight LGBTQ cultural issues.
"Transgender Day of Visibility celebrates the joy, strength, and absolute courage of some of the bravest people I know — people who have too often had to put their jobs, relationships, and lives on the line just to be their true selves. Today, we show millions of transgender and nonbinary Americans that we see them, they belong, and they should be treated with dignity and respect. Their courage has given countless others strength, but no one should have to be brave just to be themselves. Every American deserves that freedom.”
"Transgender Americans shape our Nation’s soul — proudly serving in the military, curing deadly diseases, holding elected office, running thriving businesses, fighting for justice, raising families, and much more," the proclamation continued. "A wave of discriminatory State laws is targeting transgender youth, terrifying families and hurting kids who are not hurting anyone."
The proclamation cited last year's Club Q shooting in Colorado as a "stain on the consciousness of our Nation."
"My Administration has fought to end these injustices from day one, working to ensure that transgender people and the entire LGBTQI+ community can live openly and safely," the release reads, citing Biden's appointment of a "record number" of openly LGBTQI+ leaders to his administration along with Biden's move to other efforts to curb discrimination and create more accessible public spaces.
"Together, we also have to keep challenging the hundreds of hateful State laws that have been introduced across the country, making sure every child knows that they are made in the image of God, that they are loved, and that we are standing up for them."
The proclamation references recent state laws seeking to ban children from adult performances and other legislation as "hateful."
"America is founded on the idea that all people are created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout their lives. We have never fully lived up to that, but we have never walked away from it either," the proclamation continued. "Today, as we celebrate transgender people, we also celebrate every American’s fundamental right to be themselves, bringing us closer to realizing America’s full promise."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, 2023, 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 against all transgender, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary people.
