By Casey Harper (The Central Square)
President Joe Biden is under fire after the White House banned religious imagery for Easter this year and then proceeded to make this year’s Easter officially “Transgender Day of Visibility.”
It is unclear whether the White House’s choice to celebrate the most important Christian holiday as a transgender holiday was an intentional decision or a political gaffe.
“The Biden White House has betrayed the central tenet of Easter — which is the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Banning sacred truth and tradition – and at the same time proclaiming Easter Sunday as ‘Transgender Day’ – is outrageous and abhorrent. The American people are taking notice.”
Biden published a post on X Sunday in honor of the new holiday.
“On Transgender Day of Visibility, we celebrate the joy, strength, and sheer courage of some of the bravest people I know,” Biden wrote. “Today we show millions of transgender and nonbinary Americans that we see them, they belong, and they should be treated with dignity and respect.”
Then the criticism rained in.
“This is what interests Biden and who he is addressing. It is devaluing Easter and increasing trans recognition,” U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Absolutely disgraceful and despicable.”
The decision could backfire politically, and the Trump campaign quickly seized the opportunity to attack Biden and demand he apologize.
A senator called for the person responsible to be fired.
“In addition to being shameful and offensive to Christians, declaring a day of trans visibility on Easter Sunday is just *weird*,” Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, wrote in X. “The White House should apologize. Then Biden should fire whoever is responsible.”
Next year, Easter, the Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion, will be on April 20, thus avoiding the same conflict with the now official Transgender Visibility Day, which will remain on March 31.
Notably, on the White House’s Spanish-language X account, they did not celebrate Transgender Day of Visibility but instead honored Easter and César Chávez Day.
“The White House apparently fears that Spanish-speaking Americans may be offended by Biden’s decision to confuse Easter with ‘Transgender Day of Visibility,’ perhaps to an even greater extent than English speakers,” wrote U.S. Senator Mike Lee, R-Utah. on X. “Mr. President: it is offensive to Christians – in all languages”.
Syndicated with permission from The Center Square.