Joe Biden proclaims Pride Month and fight for LGBTQ rights unlike Donald Trump
President Joe Biden on the first day of June officially affirming it Pride Month and vowed to continue fighting for civil rights protections for the LGBTQ community to be codified into law.
Biden’s proclamation was an about-face from his predecessor Donald Trump’s approach last June. Trump did not acknowledge Pride month despite advice from several aides and US embassies were not allowed to fly Pride flags.
In a statement on Tuesday, the White House differentiated itself from the Trump administration.
‘After four years of relentless attacks on LGBTQ+ rights, the Biden-Harris Administration has taken historic actions to accelerate the march toward full LGBTQ+ equality,’ the statement read. ‘The Biden-Harris Administration is a consistent and reliable partner in the fight for equality at home and abroad.’
The White House noted its efforts to boost the LGBTQ community, including reversing a Trump-era ban on transgender Americans serving in the military and having LGBTQ people in positions of leadership across the federal government.
‘The President has the back of LGBTQ+ people across the country and will continue fighting for full equality for every American,’ the statement read, ‘Including through continuing to urge the US Senate to pass the Equality Act and provide overdue civil rights protections to LGBTQ+ people and families across the country.’
If passed, the Equality Act would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, sex, and gender identity in the workplace, education, housing and federal programs.
Biden’s proclamation comes as state legislatures across the US seek to place limits on LGBTQ rights. Florida’s Republican Governor Ron DeSantis on Tuesday signed into law legislation prohibiting transgender females from participating in women’s sports.
The White House in its statement acknowledged that ‘some states are attempting to roll back the clock on equality with discriminatory bills that target LGBTQ+ people and families’.
‘Too many LGBTQ+ Americans across our nation continue facing discrimination and hate, especially LGBTQ+ people of color and transgender Americans,’ the statement read.
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