Global Courant
President Biden on Thursday railed against what he called “hysterical” and “biased” lawmakers who passed laws across the country banning gender transition surgeries for children.
Biden made the remarks during a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak after being asked by a reporter about the laws being enacted to protect minors, or their parents, from making irreversible changes to their bodies.
“As president, I was proud to end the transgender gang in our military, sign the Respect for Marriage Act, strengthen civil rights protections for all LGBT Americans, and advance LGBT human rights around the world,” said Biden.
“But our battle is far from over because we have some hysterical and, I would say, prejudiced people involved in everything that you see happening in the country. It’s a call to fear, and it’s a call that totally, thoroughly unjustified and ugly,” he said.
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President Joe Biden answers a question during a joint press conference with Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak in the East Room of the White House on June 8, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
He went on to call the bills “hateful” and claimed they “targeted transgender children, terrifying families and criminalizing doctors”.
Biden then repeated the trope often used by Democrats to describe children as collectively belonging to the nation, rather than their parents.
“These are our children. These are our neighbors. It is cruel and insensitive. They are not someone else’s children, they are all our children. Our children are the kite strings that uphold our national aspirations. It matters a great deal how we treat everyone in this country,” he said.
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He added that he planned to announce new initiatives at a “Pride Day” event that was postponed because air quality in D.C. was negatively affected by smoke from the ongoing Canadian wildfires.
A person holds a rainbow flag during a gay pride parade. (REUTERS/Axel Schmidt)
Those initiatives, Biden said, include strengthening “the physical security, the dedicated resources, the federal coordination to better protect pride celebrations, marches, community centers, healthcare providers and small businesses.”
He said his government would also address what he called “civil rights violations,” such as “book bans” that he said “make it harder for kids to learn.”
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“We are also engaging in mental health and other support – increased mental health resources and funding to help families support their children, new efforts to protect LGBTQ children in foster care, and steps to end LGBTQ homelessness,” Biden said.
“Congress needs to pass the Equality Act and send it to my desk. LGBTQ Americans, especially children, you are loved, you are heard, and this administration has your back, and I mean it. We don’t give in to a single second to make sure to make sure they are protected,” he added.
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Earlier this week, Missouri became the latest state to ban gender treatment for minors after Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott signed a similar law last week. At least 20 states have now enacted laws restricting or prohibiting gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors.
Brandon Gillespie is an associate editor at Fox News. Follow him on Twitter at @brandon_cg.
