Biden’s new measures on International Trans day make everyone happy.
Joe Biden Outlines Measures to help transgender ! The Joe Biden administration is marking International Trans Day of Visibility with new political actions supporting trans communities facing a wave of state-level discriminatory legislation.
What is the new policy about?
The recently announced measures will include policies to improve the mental health of transgender children, make it easier for transgender people to access public services, and provide more options for gender identification at the airport.
“Transgender people are the bravest Americans I know, and our country and the world are stronger, brighter, and more prosperous because of them. To trans-Americans of all ages, I want you to know that you are brave. Watch your back,” Biden wrote in a statement Wednesday.
Specifically, the Biden administration will announce that from April 11, travellers will be able to select an “X” when entering their gender on their passport, providing more options beyond “female” and “male.” CNN reported that Biden is also expected to work with airlines, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to add the “X” gender indicator to their systems. Several government agencies, such as the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), will make it easier for recipients to change gender information. Starting later this year, the SSA will no longer require ID or a medical certificate to update gender information, and other federal agencies will allow people to self-identify their gender identity.
New materials about the challenges transgender children face in school will be published by the Department of Health and Human Services, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services, and the Department of Education. This year’s transgender celebration comes after a recent onslaught of anti-transgender laws passed or proposed in recent months.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill earlier this month to ban transgender girls and women from high school and sports despite arguments that the legislation is discriminatory and addresses a problem that doesn’t exist. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has directed the state’s child protection services to investigate parents giving gender-affirming care to their children, calling it “child abuse.”
“Transgender Americans continue to face discrimination, harassment and barriers to opportunity,” Biden wrote. “Hundreds of anti-transgender bills were proposed in US states last year, targeting transgender children. This year the pressure has continued. Schneider had the second-longest winning streak. In danger!
Emhoff and Assistant Health Secretary Rachel Levine, one of the few publicly transgender administration officials, will also meet transgender children and their parents at the White House. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona will travel to Florida to discuss with LGBTQ+ students the state’s recently passed Don’t Say Homosexual Act. The legislation prohibits discussion of LGBTQ+ topics from kindergarten until third grade.
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