Washington: US President Joe Biden is facing backlash from Donald Trump’s campaign and religious conservatives over his decision to proclaim March 31 as ‘Transgenders Day Of Visibility’ which clashes with Easter Sunday this year.
Biden proclaimed on Friday calling on all Americans to join him in uplifting the voices of transgender people throughout the country and to work together towards eliminating violence and discrimination based on gender. But this designation overlaps with Easter, one of the holiest celebrations of Christianity. Donald Trump’s campaign has accused Biden who is a Roman Catholic of being insensitive towards his religion and other Republicans piled on.
Trump’s campaign press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that they called upon Joe Biden’s failing campaign and asked the White House to issue an apology to the Millions of Catholics and Christians across America who believe that tomorrow is for one celebration only which is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. She assailed what she called the Biden administration’s assault on Christian faith.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-LA on social media wrote that President Biden’s White House has betrayed the central tenet of Easter and has called his decision outrageous and abhorrent. White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said Republicans criticized Biden as seeking to divide the country and weaken it with cruel, hateful and dishonest rhetoric.
Bates said that as a Christian who celebrates Ester with family, President Biden stands for bringing people together and upholding the dignity and freedom of every American. He added that President Biden will never abuse his faith for political purposes or profit. Biden attends Mass and considers his Catholic upbringing to be a core part of his morality and identity. In 2021, he met Pope Francis at the Vatican and told reporters afterwards that the pontiff said that he was a good Catholic who should keep receiving Communion.
Biden’s political stance and gay marriage and support for women having the right to abortion has put him at odds with many conservatives.
