President Joe Biden proclaimed Friday the Transgender Day of Visibility and condemned discrimination against "all transgender, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary people."
Reflecting upon how "transgender Americans shape our nation's soul," Biden underscored many of the plights afflicting the community, ranging from a "wave of discriminatory state laws" to an "epidemic" of violence against transgender people.
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"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," Biden declared.
Some activists have called for a “Trans Day of Vengeance” rally Saturday outside of the Supreme Court in the wake of the deadly Nashville shooting at Covenant School that left six dead, including three adults and three children. The shooter identified as transgender.
The Trans Radical Activist Network (TRAN) claims that at least six transgender people died in 2023 and that upwards of 60 died in 2022.
"An epidemic of violence against transgender women and girls, in particular women and girls of color, has taken lives far too soon. Last year's Club Q shooting in Colorado was another painful example of this kind of violence," Biden added.
A flurry of Republican-controlled states has enacted or mulled over legislation to impose restrictions on gender reassignment surgery for youth or place restrictions on transgender women competing against biological females in sports contests, among other restrictions.
Biden touted his administration's work to "end these injustices from day one." He cited how the Education Department is "helping ensure that transgender students have equal opportunities to learn and thrive at school" and noted that the Justice Department is fighting state laws "that seek to ban evidence-based gender-affirming healthcare."
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The president also re-upped his call for Congress to pass the Equality Act, which bans discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
"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. 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," Biden added.