Before the White House’s Pride celebration, the Biden administration announced they have a plan to protect LGBTQ+ Americans.
There has been an onslaught of attacks on the LGBTQ+ community, both physically and politically, but the White House has ensured the community that Biden “has their back” and “will continue to fight for them. And that’s the message that we want to make sure that gets out there.”
“Across the country, our nation is facing a spike in book bans, and these efforts disproportionately target the LGBTQI+ community as well as communities of color,” an administration official told reporters on a call previewing Thursday’s announcement. “These aren’t just attacks on the rights of LGBTQI+ Americans, they are part and parcel of a coordinated attack on our democracy.”
In order to support queer and trans Americans, the Department of Homeland Security, working with the Justice and Health and Human Services departments, will partner with LGBTQ+ community organizations to provide safety resources and training to protect against physical attacks. Additionally, the HHS and the Department of Housing and Urban Development will provide resources for LGBTQ+ youth who are struggling with mental health, the foster care system, or homelessness. Lastly, the Department of Education’s civil rights office will appoint a new coordinator to combat homophobic and transphobic book bans that have been spreading across the states.
Despite the rise in attacks against the LGBTQ+ community, more Americans than ever support same-sex marriage. A survey by Gallup found that 7 out of 10 Americans support same-sex marriage and believe same-sex couples are morally acceptable. Unfortunately, the trans community continues to face the brunt of the attacks on the community. While some surveys have found a majority of Americans support prohibiting discrimination against transgender people in areas such as housing, jobs, and schools, other surveys have also found that a majority of Americans believe sex is assigned at birth and many believe in restricting the inclusion of trans individuals in gendered activities like sports.
The plan announced by the Biden administration is a step forward, and LGBTQ+ Americans hope the White House continues to support them amidst state-level political attacks.
