Dem Senator Says Criticism Of Trans Day On Easter Is Anti-Christian
Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) suggested that Christians who are not pro-transgender are not true Christians and are practicing the “opposite of Christianity.”
During a Sunday interview with CNN’s Dana Bash, Warnock slammed Republicans for speaking against transgender visibility day, which fell on the same day as Easter.
Bringing up House Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-LA) criticism of President Joe Biden’s declaration of March 31, Bash asked, “The House Speaker called Biden’s announcement abhorrent and said he betrayed the central tenet of Easter. What do you say to that?”
In response, Warnock said, “Well, apparently, the speaker finds trans people abhorrent. And I think he ought to think about that. The fact of the matter is, as you said, March 31 has been a day to lift up transgender people who endure violence and bigotry. Easter, the date changes every single day.”
“But this is just one more instance of folks who have — who do not know how to lead us trying to divide us. And this is the opposite of the Christian faith. Jesus centered to marginalize. He centered the poor. And in a moment like this, we need voices, particularly voices of faith, who would use our faith not as a weapon to beat other people down, but as a bridge to bring all of us together,” he added.
In a post on Saturday, Johnson accused Biden’s White House of betraying the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which he says is “the central tenet of Easter.”
“Banning sacred truth and tradition—while at the same time proclaiming Easter Sunday as ‘Transgender Day’—is outrageous and abhorrent. The American people are taking note,” he wrote.
The Biden White House has betrayed the central tenet of Easter — which is the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Banning sacred truth and tradition—while at the same time proclaiming Easter Sunday as “Transgender Day”—is outrageous and abhorrent. The American people are taking note. pic.twitter.com/ZCExyVkAVS
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) March 30, 2024
Biden also faced criticism from other notable Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), Rep. Alex Mooney (R-WV) and Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), who said that “everyone should be insulted” by the White House’s decision.
Despite the criticism, Biden’s White House stood on its declaration and said that those against the transgender event clashing with Easter were being divisive.
“As a Christian who celebrates Easter with family, President Biden stands for bringing people together and upholding the dignity and freedoms of every American,” a statement by the White House said.
“Sadly, it’s unsurprising politicians are seeking to divide and weaken our country with cruel, hateful, and dishonest rhetoric. President Biden will never abuse his faith for political purposes or for profit,” the statement added.