In the wake of a controversy surrounding President Joe Biden and his celebration of Trans Visibility Day, former President Donald Trump said in a campaign speech that election day will be “Christian Visibility Day.”
Biden drew criticism over the weekend for a presidential proclamation in which the president recognized March 31 as Trans Visibility Day. Trans Visibility Day was first celebrated on March 31 in 2009, and Biden has recognized it each year of his presidency.
“We honor the extraordinary courage and contributions of transgender Americans and reaffirm our Nation’s commitment to forming a more perfect Union—where all people are created equal and treated equally throughout their lives,” Biden said in the proclamation.
This year, however, March 31 was also Easter Sunday, leading some conservative critics to accuse Biden of directly attacking Christianity by attempting to replace Easter with Trans Visibility Day.
“A finger in the eye of Christians on this Easter weekend, and a shameless evil as it further normalizes one of the most dehumanizing and misanthropic ideologies of our time,” wrote Colin Smothers, executive director of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. “Biden’s radical trans activism eclipses *anything* associated with Trump.”
“The deeply evil thing Joe Biden has done in declaring today ‘Trans Visibility Day’ is a deliberate and satanic mockery of God Himself on the holiest day of the year,” posted Christian author and radio host Eric Metaxas. “We have NEVER seen brazen evil like this from any US leader. A line has been crossed. God is a judge.”
On the same day Biden released his proclamation about Trans Visibility Day, he also released a proclamation about Easter.
“Easter reminds us of the power of hope and the promise of Christ’s Resurrection. As we gather with loved ones, we remember Jesus’ sacrifice,” Biden said in that proclamation. “We pray for one another and cherish the blessing of the dawn of new possibilities. And with wars and conflict taking a toll on innocent lives around the world, we renew our commitment to work for peace, security, and dignity for all people.”
Nevertheless, regardless of the day, Biden’s ongoing support for gender affirming care, particularly for minors, is seen by many conservatives as radical.
Speaking in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on Tuesday (April 2), Trump criticized Biden’s endorsement of Trans Visibility Day and proposed an alternate celebration.
“And what the hell was Biden thinking when he declared Easter Sunday to be Trans Visibility Day,” Trump said as the crowd began to boo and several attendees pointing their thumbs down. “Such total disrespect to Christians.”
