President Joe Biden earned the ire of conservatives and a famous transgender woman, Caitlyn Jenner, when he issued a proclamation recognizing the Transgender Day of Visibility (TDoV).
"Today, we send a message to all transgender Americans: You are loved. You are heard. You are understood. You belong. You are America, and my entire Administration and I have your back," the president said in a statement released on Friday.
The message angered a number of conservatives as TDoV fell on March 31, the same day as the heterodox Christian Easter. Orthodox Easter this year falls on May 5.
A number of conservatives said that Biden had hijacked a holy holiday to support transgender people.
The Claim
Jenner, an Olympic decathlete champion and reality TV star, who publicly came out as a transgender woman in 2015, took to X, formerly Twitter, to slam Biden's message of support to transgender people, suggesting that he created TDoV to be held on the "most Holy of Holy days."
"I am absolutely disgusted that Joe Biden has declared the most Holy of Holy days - a self proclaimed devout Catholic - as Transgender Day of Visibility. The only thing you should be declaring on this day is 'HE is Risen'," she wrote.
I am absolutely disgusted that Joe Biden has declared the most Holy of Holy days - a self proclaimed devout Catholic - as Transgender Day of Visibility. The only thing you should be declaring on this day is ‘HE is Risen’.
— Caitlyn Jenner (@Caitlyn_Jenner) March 30, 2024
The Facts
TDoV was created in 2009 to "celebrate the lives and contributions of trans people, while also drawing attention to the poverty, discrimination, and violence the community faces," according to LGBTQ+ media advocacy group, GLAAD.
It was first celebrated on March 31, which has remained the date of commemoration for the past 15 years.
Michigan-based transgender activist, Rachel Crandall-Crocker, created TDoV and reflected on how it had become a global day of recognition since 2009.
"It really is amazing how far it has come," she told NPR on March 30. "I wasn't expecting to start an international movement."
"I wanted a day that we could focus on the living. And where we could have rallies all as one community all the way around the world."
Crandall-Crocker also explained why she specifically chose March 31 as TDoV, which was to ensure there was enough distance between it and Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20 and LGBTQ+ Pride Month in June.
Non-Orthodox Christians use the Gregorian calendar to determine the dates for movable feasts, such as Easter. As a result, Easter usually falls between March 22 and April 25 every year and is celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon on or following the spring equinox. Orthodox Christians observe the Julian calendar.
Biden was the first U.S. President to proclaim March 31 as the official day of transgender visibility when he did so in 2021.
"Transgender Day of Visibility recognizes the generations of struggle, activism, and courage that have brought our country closer to full equality for transgender and gender non-binary people in the United States and around the world," he said in a public statement at the time.
Biden added: "In spite of our progress in advancing civil rights for LGBTQ+ Americans, too many transgender people—adults and youth alike—still face systemic barriers to freedom and equality."
This year, along with recognizing TDoV, the president also sent out a separate message to mark the Easter holiday.
"Jill [Biden, the First Lady] and I send our warmest wishes to Christians around the world celebrating Easter Sunday. Easter reminds us of the power of hope and the promise of Christ's Resurrection," he said in a statement.
"As we gather with loved ones, we remember Jesus' sacrifice. 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.
"From our family to yours, happy Easter and may God bless you."
The Ruling
False.
While Biden did officially acknowledge March 31 to be TDoV, he also did so in 2021 when Easter fell on April 4 that year.
The day was set by a Michigan-based advocate to raise awareness of the plight of transgender people and to celebrate their achievements.
The first TDoV was celebrated in 2009 when Easter occurred on April 12. Since then, the two dates coincided only twice: in 2013 and in 2024.
Biden did not invent TDoV, nor set the date to deliberately clash with Easter, which is on a different date every year.
FACT CHECK BY NEWSWEEK
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Shannon Power is a Greek-Australian reporter, but now calls London home. They have worked as across three continents in print, ... Read more
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