Republicans are attacking President Joe Biden for declaring Easter Sunday as the Transgender Day of Visibility, an annual day celebrating successes of transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals. The proclamation was criticized by former President Donald Trump's campaign and House Speaker Mike Johnson, accusing Biden of betraying Easter's central tenet. White House defended Biden's stance as a Christian who aims to unite people while upholding every American's dignity and freedoms. Biden's proclamation highlighted transgender Americans' courage and contributions, emphasizing their right to be themselves and criticizing Republican-led efforts to limit their protections.
President Biden declared Easter Sunday as Transgender Day of Visibility, doubling backlash by banning religious imagery at the White House Easter Egg Roll event, amid criticism of an 'attack on Christianity.' Former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy criticized the move, while Biden emphasized support for transgender Americans and condemned hateful laws and violence against them. The ban on religious submissions for the event drew controversy, with critics feeling the religious foundation of Easter should be respected.
The Biden administration issued a proclamation for Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31, 2024, which coincided with Easter Sunday, leading to criticism for prioritizing one over the other. The administration's statement highlighted support for transgender Americans and commitment to equality. This decision sparked debate and controversy over the choice to publicly recognize Transgender Day of Visibility over Easter, a significant holiday for billions of Christians worldwide, including over a hundred million Americans.
International Transgender Day of Visibility (often referred to as TDOV or Trans Day of Visibility) is an annual event occurring on March 31 dedicated to celebrating transgender people and raising awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide, as well as a celebration of their contributions to society. The event was created by transgender activist Rachel Crandall of Michigan in 2009 as a reaction to the lack of LGBTQ+ recognition of transgender people, citing the frustration that the only well-known transgender-centered day was the Transgender Day of Remembrance, which mourned the murders of transgender people, but did not acknowledge and celebrate living members of the transgender community. The first International Transgender Day of Visibility was held on March 31, 2009. It has since been spearheaded by the U.S.-based youth advocacy organization Trans Student Educational Resources.In 2014, the day was observed by activists across the world, including in Ireland and Scotland. In 2015, many transgender individuals participated in an online social media campaign on websites including Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Instagram. Participants posted selfies, personal stories, and statistics regarding transgender issues and other related content to raise awareness and increase visibility.Joe Biden officially proclaimed March 31, 2021, as a Transgender Day of Visibility, proclaiming in part, "I call upon all Americans to join in the fight for full equality for all transgender people." Biden was the first American president to issue a formal presidential proclamation recognizing the event. Biden issued a similar proclamation a year later, welcoming Jeopardy! contestant and transgender woman Amy Schneider to the White House and announcing a set of measures intended to support transgender rights.
The White House has vowed to work towards repealing the provision that bans the flying of LGBTQ Pride flags over US embassies, which was included in a massive funding bill signed by President Joe Biden. The ban was touted by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson as a reason to support the bill, but the White House is committed to fighting for LGBTQ equality both domestically and internationally. The law signed by Biden prohibits flying the rainbow flag over US embassies but does not restrict displaying it elsewhere on embassy grounds or inside offices.
Former President Donald Trump shared a video on social media showing an image of President Joe Biden bound and restrained on the back of a pickup truck with 'Trump 2024' displayed. Trump's spokesperson defended the image, accusing Democrats of inciting violence against Trump and his family. Biden's campaign spokesman criticized Trump for using violent imagery, referencing past statements and the January 6 Capitol attack.
Democrats are connecting the Alabama Supreme Court ruling on IVF embryos to former President Trump and his influence on the U.S. Supreme Court, blaming Republicans for the decision. Despite some Republicans expressing support for IVF, their backing of legislation declaring life begins at conception without IVF exceptions creates a contradiction. The Life at Conception Act, sponsored by GOP Rep. Alex Mooney and House Speaker Mike Johnson, defines human life at conception without IVF carveouts. Democrats fear such legislation could impact IVF clinics. Republicans are distancing from the Alabama ruling but Democrats highlight the conflicting positions on reproductive rights.
International Transgender Day of Visibility, observed on Sunday annually, features events globally including panels, marches, rallies, and inclusive activities. The day aims to highlight the often ignored transgender population, with major landmarks in the U.S. lit up in pink, white, and light blue. Originating in 2009, the day contrasts with Transgender Day of Remembrance in November and Pride Month in June. Despite increased visibility, backlash exists with some states implementing restrictive policies towards transgender individuals.
House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized President Biden for apologizing to Jose Ibarra, accused of murdering Laken Riley, using the term 'illegal immigrant' and then backtracking to 'undocumented immigrant.' Former President Trump condemned Biden's apology, emphasizing the impact of lax border enforcement. The case highlights immigration as a key issue in the 2024 presidential campaign.
House Republicans, led by Rep. James Comer, have invited President Joe Biden to testify before Congress in an impeachment inquiry regarding his family's business affairs. Comer cited the need for Biden to explain his involvement under oath, referencing past presidents who testified before Congress. Despite the unlikelihood of Biden agreeing, pressure is mounting on Republican leaders to address the investigation into the Biden family's business dealings. The White House has dismissed the inquiry as baseless and urged Republicans to focus on more pressing issues.
Republican-led states Missouri and Louisiana filed a lawsuit accusing high-ranking government officials of working with social media companies to censor speech, citing issues like Hunter Biden's laptop and COVID-19 origins. Justices debated if the Biden administration's actions crossed constitutional lines, with concerns over coercion or permissible persuasion. Justice Alito criticized treating social media platforms as subordinates, while Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson mentioned the government's duty to protect citizens by pressuring platforms to remove harmful information.
Joe Biden's tenure as the 46th president of the United States began with his inauguration on January 20, 2021. Biden, a Democrat from Delaware who previously served as vice president for two terms under President Barack Obama, took office following his victory in the 2020 presidential election over Republican incumbent president Donald Trump. Upon his inauguration, he became the oldest president in American history, breaking the record set by his predecessor Trump. Biden entered office amid the COVID-19 pandemic, an economic crisis, and increased political polarization.On the first day of his presidency, Biden made an effort to revert President Trump's energy policy by restoring U.S. participation in the Paris Agreement and revoking the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline. He also halted funding for Trump's border wall, an expansion of the Mexican border wall. On his second day, he issued a series of executive orders to reduce the impact of COVID-19, including invoking the Defense Production Act of 1950, and set an early goal of achieving one hundred million COVID-19 vaccinations in the United States in his first 100 days.Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021; a $1.9 trillion stimulus bill that temporarily established expanded unemployment insurance and sent $1,400 stimulus checks to most Americans in response to continued economic pressure from COVID-19. He signed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act; a ten-year plan brokered by Biden alongside Democrats and Republicans in Congress, to invest in American roads, bridges, public transit, ports and broadband access. Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, making Juneteenth a federal holiday in the United States. He appointed Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court—the first Black woman to serve on the court. After The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Biden took executive actions, such as the signing of Executive Order 14076, to preserve and protect women's health rights nationwide, against abortion bans in Republican led states. Biden proposed a significant expansion of the U.S. social safety net through the Build Back Better Act, but those efforts, along with voting rights legislation, failed in Congress. However, in August 2022, Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, a domestic appropriations bill that included some of the provisions of the Build Back Better Act after the entire bill failed to pass. It included significant federal investment in climate and domestic clean energy production, tax credits for solar panels, electric cars and other home energy programs as well as a three-year extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies. Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act, bolstering the semiconductor and manufacturing industry, the Honoring our PACT Act, expanding health care for US veterans, and the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act. In late 2022, Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act, which repealed the Defense of Marriage Act and codified same-sex and interracial marriage in the United States. In response to the debt-ceiling crisis of 2023, Biden negotiated and signed the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, which restrains federal spending for fiscal years 2024 and 2025, implements minor changes to SNAP and TANF, includes energy permitting reform, claws back some IRS funding and unspent money for COVID-19, and suspends the debt ceiling to January 1, 2025. Biden established the American Climate Corps and created the first ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. On September 26, 2023, Joe Biden visited a United Auto Workers picket line during the 2023 United Auto Workers strike, making him the first US president to visit one.The foreign policy goal of the Biden administration is to restore the US to a "position of trusted leadership" among global democracies in order to address the challenges posed by Russia and China. In foreign policy, Biden completed the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Afghanistan, declaring an end to nation-building efforts and shifting U.S. foreign policy toward strategic competition with China and, to a lesser extent, Russia. However, during the withdrawal, the Afghan government collapsed and the Taliban seized control, leading to Biden receiving bipartisan criticism. He responded to the Russian invasion of Ukraine by imposing sanctions on Russia as well as providing Ukraine with over $100 billion in combined military, economic, and humanitarian aid. Biden also approved a raid which led to the death of Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, the leader of the Islamic State, and approved a drone strike which killed Ayman Al Zawahiri, leader of Al-Qaeda. Biden signed AUKUS, an international security alliance, together with Australia and the United Kingdom. Biden called for the expansion of NATO with the addition of Finland and Sweden, and rallied NATO allies in support of Ukraine. During the Israel–Hamas war, Biden condemned Hamas and other Palestinian militants as terrorism and announced American military support for Israel; Biden also showed his support and sympathy towards Palestinians affected by the war, sent humanitarian aid, and brokered a four-day temporary pause and hostage exchange.Biden began his term with over 50% approval ratings; however, these fell significantly after the withdrawal from Afghanistan and remained low as the country experienced high inflation and rising gas prices. His age and mental fitness have also been a subject of discussion.
During an interview on WBT radio, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre abruptly ended the conversation when asked about President Biden's mental state, calling the question insulting. The interviewer, Mark Garrison, mentioned concerns about Biden's cognitive abilities, leading to a quick conclusion of the discussion. The White House accused the radio station of adding drama by including a dial tone at the end. The topic of Biden's mental acuity and age, along with concerns about both candidates' capabilities, is a significant issue for many American voters.
President Biden has rarely mentioned 'Bidenomics' in recent months, with a notable decline in its usage since June, while Republicans have been consistently using the term to criticize his economic policies. Despite this, Biden reaffirmed the effectiveness of 'Bidenomics' at a recent event, emphasizing its impact on consumer confidence and economic approval. The White House spokesperson defended Biden's economic record, contrasting it with Republican support for special interests over middle-class families. Democrats have significantly reduced their use of the term, with Biden distancing himself initially from this economic slogan.
President Joe Biden took jabs at former President Donald Trump's golf game and physical fitness during a fundraiser event in New York with Stephen Colbert, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton. Biden offered to play golf with Trump and joked about giving him three strokes if he carried his own bag. This banter comes amidst Biden's reelection campaign and concerns about his age. Trump recently claimed golf trophies at his club, leading to skepticism. The event raised $25 million for Biden's campaign and highlighted contrasts between the two politicians' ideas and fitness levels.
During a fundraising stop in Houston, President Joe Biden mocked former President Donald Trump's suggestion of using household cleaning products like bleach as a remedy for COVID-19. Trump's past remarks dismissing the severity of the virus and proposing disinfectant injections were highlighted, with Biden jokingly suggesting that Trump must have tried injecting bleach. The Biden campaign plans to leverage key moments from four years ago, focusing on Trump's handling of the pandemic, to counter Trump's question of 'Are you better off than you were four years ago?'
First Lady Jill Biden, a teacher for over 30 years, is turning the annual White House Easter Egg Roll held since 1878 into an educational event with activities promoting farming, healthy eating, and exercise. Around 40,000 participants, including military families and the general public selected via lottery, will take part in the event on the South Lawn and Ellipse. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, in their third year hosting the Easter Egg Roll, bring back the tradition after cancelling it in 2021 due to COVID-19.
President Biden's campaign, flush with cash after a successful fundraiser, is launching an ad to sway Nikki Haley supporters to back the Democrats. The ad includes Trump calling Haley 'Birdbrain' and stating her supporters are not welcome in his campaign. Despite initial threats, Trump welcomed Haley supporters after her exit. Biden advisers are monitoring support from independent and anti-Trump Republicans to potentially gain additional backing. Biden's campaign did not immediately comment on the ad's distribution.
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The Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR), also known as the International Transgender Day of Remembrance, has been observed annually from its inception on November 20 to memorialize those who have been murdered as a result of transphobia. The day was founded to draw attention to the continued violence directed toward transgender people.Transgender Day of Remembrance was founded in 1999 by a small group, including Gwendolyn Ann Smith, Nancy Nangeroni, and Jahaira DeAlto, to memorialize the murders of Black transgender women Rita Hester in Allston, Massachusetts, and Chanelle Pickett in Watertown, Massachusetts. After Hester's death in 1998, Smith was surprised to realize that none of her friends remembered Pickett or her murder three years prior, saying "It really surprised me that it had already, in a short period of time, been forgotten, and here we were with another murder at the same site.” The first TDoR took place in November 1999 in Boston and San Francisco, as both Hester and Pickett's deaths occurred in November. TDoR continued to be observed annually on November 20, the anniversary of Pickett's murder. In 2010, TDoR was observed in over 185 cities throughout more than 20 countries.Typically, a TDoR memorial includes a reading of the names of those who died from October 1 of the former year to September 30th of the current year, and may include other actions, such as candlelight vigils, dedicated church services, marches, art shows, food drives, and film screenings. GLAAD (formerly the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) has extensively covered TDoR, interviewed numerous transgender advocates (including actress Candis Cayne), profiled an event at the New York City LGBT Community Center, and discussed media coverage of TDoR.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Utah teachers will be free to display LGBTQ+ Pride flags and other social, political or religious imagery after the state House blocked a bill on Monday that would have banned teachers from using their position to promote or disparage certain beliefs. The Republican-led chamber defeated the proposal in a 39-32 vote as they raced to address hundreds of outstanding bills during the final week of the 2024 legislative session. Both Democrats and Republicans criticized the bills vague language and warned that it could stymie important lessons in critical thinking. Educators would have been prohibited under the bill from encouraging a student to reconsider their sexual orientation or gender, and they could have faced punishment for affirming or refusing to affirm a students identity. Challenging a students political viewpoints or religious beliefs, even within the context of an educational exercise, also could have left a teacher vulnerable to a lawsuit.
Alabama Senator Katie Britt, the youngest female senator, will deliver the Republican response to President Joe Biden's State of the Union address. Britt, the first woman elected to the Senate from Alabama, emphasized the importance of supporting IVF treatments after a ruling by Alabama's Supreme Court. Former President Donald Trump expressed strong support for IVF availability following Britt's calls to Republicans, highlighting the significance of pro-life and pro-family stances. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell praised Britt as an advocate for a stronger American future and families, while House Speaker Mike Johnson commended her commitment to various key issues.
A Minnesota appeals court has sent JayCee Cooper's lawsuit against USA Powerlifting back to a trial court to determine if she was denied entry into women's competitions due to her gender identity. Cooper, a transgender woman, alleged discrimination under the Minnesota Human Rights Act. USA Powerlifting's lead attorney stated she was excluded based on her physiology, not her gender identity. Transgender participation in sports remains contentious, with Republican-led states banning it. College athletes, including swimmer Riley Gaines, have sued the NCAA over transgender inclusion in championships.
As former President Donald Trump campaigns on the promises of mass deportations and pardons for those convicted in the Jan 6 Capitol attack, a new era of Republicans in Congress is offering little resistance to his ideas, marking a shift from previous encounters when Trump faced skepticism and condemnation.
Michigan Rep. Matt Maddock falsely accused buses transporting college basketball players to the Sweet 16 games as 'illegal invaders' at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, sparking criticism for spreading misinformation. Airport officials clarified that the buses were for the NCAA tournament teams. Maddock's post, tagged Michigan Republican Party Chair Pete Hoekstra, was condemned for using dangerous rhetoric. The false claims led to backlash on social media, with some Republicans retracting their support. Maddock, previously endorsed by Trump, stands by his statements despite evidence proving otherwise.
On the one-year anniversary of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich's detention in Russia, President Biden stated that the U.S. government is working to secure his release. Gershkovich, arrested on espionage charges in Yekaterinburg, is accused of collecting secret military information, an allegation denied by the U.S. and Gershkovich. The Wall Street Journal honored him by leaving a blank space on the front page with his image and the headline 'His Story Should be Here.' Biden vowed to continue efforts for his release and denounced Russia's detention of Americans like Gershkovich and Paul Whelan.
A transgender person (often shortened to trans person) is someone whose gender identity differs from that typically associated with the sex they were assigned at birth. Some transgender people who desire medical assistance to transition from one sex to another identify as transsexual. Transgender is also an umbrella term; in addition to including people whose gender identity is the opposite of their assigned sex (trans men and trans women), it may also include people who are non-binary or genderqueer. Other definitions of transgender also include people who belong to a third gender, or else conceptualize transgender people as a third gender. The term may also include cross-dressers or drag kings and drag queens in some contexts. The term transgender does not have a universally accepted definition, including among researchers.Being transgender is distinct from sexual orientation, and transgender people may identify as heterosexual (straight), homosexual (gay or lesbian), bisexual, asexual, or otherwise, or may decline to label their sexual orientation. The opposite of transgender is cisgender, which describes persons whose gender identity matches their assigned sex. Accurate statistics on the number of transgender people vary widely, in part due to different definitions of what constitutes being transgender. Some countries, such as Canada, collect census data on transgender people. Generally, fewer than 1% of the worldwide population are transgender, with figures ranging from <0.1% to 0.6%.Many transgender people experience gender dysphoria, and some seek medical treatments such as hormone replacement therapy, gender-affirming surgery, or psychotherapy. Not all transgender people desire these treatments, and some cannot undergo them for financial or medical reasons.The legal status of transgender people varies by jurisdiction. Many transgender people experience transphobia, or violence or discrimination towards transgender people, in the workplace, in accessing public accommodations, and in healthcare. In many places, they are not legally protected from discrimination. Several cultural events are held to celebrate the awareness of transgender people, including Transgender Day of Remembrance and International Transgender Day of Visibility, and the transgender flag is a common transgender pride symbol.
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris visited North Carolina to promote their healthcare agenda, highlighting their achievements and contrasting with Republican policies. Biden emphasized the importance of preserving healthcare access, while Harris focused on supporting abortion rights. The White House has touted record enrollment in Obamacare and efforts to lower medical costs. Trump leads Biden by 3% in North Carolina according to polls, with Democrats hoping down-ballot races can sway voters. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper used funds from the American Rescue Plan to expand Medicaid coverage.
The Republican-led House Oversight Committee invited President Biden to testify publicly on April 16 as part of the impeachment inquiry. Rep. James Comer cited testimony from Hunter Biden's former business associates and highlighted discrepancies in Biden's statements. The inquiry focuses on allegations of the president's involvement in his family's foreign business deals, but lacks evidence of impeachable offenses. The White House dismissed the invitation as a "sad stunt." Hunter Biden previously declined to testify, asserting his father's non-involvement in his business deals.
Democrats are celebrating success in special and off-year elections, indicating enthusiasm for President Joe Biden to tap into this fall. However, Biden's popularity remains a concern as he is unpopular, especially with concerns over his age. Despite this, Democrats point to recent victories in special elections for the U.S. House in New York and the state House in Pennsylvania as evidence of Biden's better shape than polls suggest.
A federal judge dismissed a challenge from Republican-led states against Biden's program allowing up to 30,000 asylum-seekers from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela into the U.S. each month on humanitarian grounds. The judge stated that the states did not show financial harm to have legal standing. The program aims to encourage migrants to use legal pathways into the U.S. The states argued the program burdens them financially. Advocates claim migrants help with a farm labor shortage. The White House praised the program's success in lawful pathways and decreasing border crossings.
House Oversight Chairman James Comer has formally invited President Joe Biden to testify at a public hearing as House Republicans attempt to revive interest in their stalled impeachment inquiry. Despite the invitation, the White House has dismissed the move as a 'sad stunt'. Comer suggested the hearing take place on April 16 and emphasized the lack of evidence found by Republicans to support their core allegations against the president. Various Biden family business associates have testified, denying discussions of business with the president. Comer has also hinted at sending criminal referrals to the Department of Justice as an alternative to impeachment.
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