ABOVE: President Joe Biden, photo via Biden’s Facebook.
President Biden, keeping with the tradition of Democratic presidents issuing a proclamation recognizing Pride month, pointed out in his statement the occasion comes as states are advancing and enacting laws against LGBTQ youth.
As a result of the anti-LGBTQ measures, Biden said in the statement May 31 that Pride festivities come at a time of “relentless attack” on LGBTQ people.
“An onslaught of dangerous anti-LGBTQI+ legislation has been introduced and passed in States across the country, targeting transgender children and their parents and interfering with their access to health care,” the statement says. “These unconscionable attacks have left countless LGBTQI+ families in fear and pain.”
Among the measures being advanced in state legislatures are laws banning transgender youth from participating in school sports and making it criminal for medical providers to provide transition-related care to transgender youth.
Some of these measures have been approved by Republicans who are potential 2024 presidential contenders. In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott declared transition-related care a form of child abuse as officials began investigating families with transgender youth. In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” legislation prohibiting teachers from discussing LGBTQ issues or identities in grades K-3 or other “age inappropriate” settings.
“As I said in my State of the Union Address — especially to our younger transgender Americans — I will always have your back as your President so that you can be yourself and reach your God-given potential,” Biden writes. “Today and every day, my Administration stands with every LGBTQI+ American in the ongoing struggle against intolerance, discrimination, and injustice.”
