The White House has kicked off its celebration of Pride Month by taking a rather big swipe at both former President Donald Trump and red states they claim have passed anti-transgender bills in a statement released on Tuesday.
“After four years of relentless attacks on LGBTQ+ rights, the Biden-Harris Administration has taken historic actions to accelerate the march toward full LGBTQ+ equality,” the White House statement read.
“From protecting the civil rights of every LGBTQ+ American, enabling all qualified Americans — including transgender Americans — to serve their country in uniform, ensuring that LGBTQ+ Americans are leaders at every level of the federal government, to protecting and defending the human rights of LGBTQ+ persons around the world, the Biden-Harris Administration is a consistent and reliable partner in the fight for equality at home and abroad,” the statement read.
In his proclamation, Biden referenced how states have “actively” targeted transgender youth through legislation as lawmakers crack down on athletes not competing in sports as their biological gender. He also touted how almost 14% of his 1,500 federal agency appointees identify as gay.
“I am particularly honored by the service of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the first openly LGBTQ+ person to serve in the Cabinet, and Assistant Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine, the first openly transgender person to be confirmed by the Senate,” he wrote.
Trump named Richard Grenell acting director of national intelligence last year, but Grenell did not require Senate consent to step into that role temporarily.
Pride Month also happens to coincide with the anniversary of the Stonewall Inn riots that took place in June 1969. The civil unrest that unfolded during that event were due to what is referred to as an anti-gay police raid of a Mafia owned club in Greenwich Village on June 28.
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