The White House released a proclamation on Wednesday declaring March 31 as Transgender Day Of Visibility. According to the proclamation, the day “recognizes the generations of struggle, activism and courage” by the transgender and gender non-binary communities. President Joe Biden is the first president to issue a presidential proclamation recognizing the day.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to fulfilling the promise of America for all Americans by stamping out discrimination and delivering freedom and equality for all,” Biden wrote.
The proclamation goes into further details about the systematic barriers transgender adults and youths face in their fight for freedom and equality. “Transgender Americans face discrimination in health care, housing, employment and public accommodations,” Biden wrote. He also touched on the violence and harassment people who identify as transgender face.
“The crisis of violence against transgender women, especially transgender women of color, is a stain on our Nation’s conscience.”
Biden continued by highlighting the work his administration is already doing for the cause, including issuing an executive order during his first day to expand discrimination protection for LGBTQ people. There is mention of celebrating this day alongside public servants such as the Assistant Secretary for Health, Rachel Levine. Rachel is “the first openly transgender American to be confirmed by the United States Senate.”
The proclamation acknowledged “patriotic transgender service members,” who can serve openly again after Biden issued an executive order to undo former President Trump’s ban on transgender people in the military.
Biden also encouraged Congress to pass the Equality Act to “provide long overdue Federal civil rights protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.” He described the Equality Act as a “lasting legacy to the bravery and fortitude of the LGBTQ+ movement.”
Prior to closing out the proclamation, Biden urged his fellow Americans to join him and Vice President Harris “in uplifting the worth and dignity of every transgender person.”
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