WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden welcomed hundreds to the White House on Saturday for a postponed Pride Month celebration aimed at showing LGBTQ+ people his administration at a time when advocates warn of a rise in discriminatory legislation , particularly against them, has its back strengthened by the transgender community sweeping through state houses.
The event, which the government has described as the largest Pride event at the White House, was originally scheduled for Thursday but was postponed due to poor air quality from hazardous air pouring in from Canadian wildfires. But the haze that blanketed much of the east coast last week had lifted over the nation’s capital, allowing the president and first lady Jill Biden to hold their South Lawn party.
“So today I want to send a message to the whole community – especially to transgender children: You are loved. you will be heard You understood. And you’re part of it,” Biden said.
According to the Human Rights Campaign, a group that campaigns for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer rights, Pride Month is celebrated this year as state legislators introduced at least 525 bills and 78 bills have passed that restrict the rights of LGBTQ+ people.
This tally includes a number of recent bills affecting transgender people, including legislation recently passed by Republican governors vying for the 2024 presidential nomination.
In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis recently signed a bill banning sex-specific medical care such as puberty blockers or hormone therapy for transgender youth. Earlier this week, a federal judge temporarily blocked portions of a law DeSantis signed into law just before announcing his presidential candidacy.
In North Dakota, Gov. Doug Burgum signed a bill last month that would ban public schools and government agencies from requiring teachers and staff to refer to transgender people by the pronouns they use. Burgum, who, like DeSantis, has made cultural issues a central part of his tenure as governor, joined the White House primary.
Josh Helfgott, an LGBTQ+ activist and social media influencer from New York City, said celebrating Pride Month at the White House was one of the most important moments of his life. But he said the wave of legislation added another dimension to this year’s celebrations.
“Pride is so important this year because we cannot remain silent in the face of hate and bigotry,” Helfgott said. “The other side is so loud, incredibly loud.” ”
Anjali Rimi, from San Francisco, attended the White House event with her mother, who recently immigrated from India.
Rimi came to the United States more than 20 years ago because, as she says, as a transgender person, she was shunned by family and society.
Times are also difficult in the United States, she said. After coming out, she was forced out of the job, was homeless for a time, and sought asylum in Canada for about a decade before returning to the United States.
“It’s a moment that we will cherish for a lifetime,” said Rimi, an LGBTQ+ community activist in San Francisco. “It’s a happy moment, but it’s also a reminder that we still have so much work to do.”
Originally published June 10, 2023 at 1:30 p.m
