Transgender people are “under attack,” according to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. Jean-Pierre denounced “anti-trans bills” being passed by state legislatures during the White House daily press briefing on Thursday. She argued that such measures “attack trans kids as they attack trans parents.” Jean-Pierre called the bills “shameful” and “unacceptable.”
Senator Josh Hawley and Donald Trump Jr. took to Twitter to criticize the Biden administration’s lack of sympathy for the Christian victims of the recent Nashville shooting. The shooter identified as transgender, and this fact has further amplified conservative outrage at Jean-Pierre’s comments on trans people.
Jean-Pierre made her comments just three days after the shooting. Six people were killed at the Covenant School, including three children. Hawley called for a full hate crime investigation, while Trump Jr. said the Biden administration has shown “ZERO sympathy” towards the Christian victims of the shooting.
Dan Andros from the Christian Broadcasting Network tweeted that Jean-Pierre’s rhetoric was “sad.” He claimed that the press secretary didn’t have to “sit and fumble through notes” while defending trans people against a shooting carried out by a trans person.
Jean-Pierre’s comments were made ahead of a planned protest by the LGBTQ community in Washington, DC. The protest, called the “Trans Day of Vengeance” rally, is set to take place outside the US Supreme Court this Saturday.
President Biden has shown his support for the transgender community by declaring Friday as “Transgender Day of Visibility.” In his proclamation, Biden said that “no one should have to be brave just to be themselves.” He proclaimed that every American deserves the freedom to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of gender identity.
