Before President Biden was inaugurated, his administration put forth its strong support for transgender issues. During his presidency, the administration rolled back Trump-era trans policies, celebrated holidays championing the trans and LGBTQ communities, and pledged support to transgender individuals.
One of the earliest examples of this support was the nomination of Rachel Levine, a transgender woman, to the Department of Health and Human Services. The administration also rolled back Trump’s ban on trans individuals serving in the military, citing it as “the right thing to do” and “in the national interest.”
The White House elevated trans and LGBTQ holidays across the last four years, including issuing messages of support for “Transgender Day of Visibility” each year. The administration also hosted its largest Pride celebration in its history in 2023, which was attended by hundreds of guests.
Notable transgender individuals were invited to the White House, including “Jeopardy!” champion Amy Schneider, transgender internet influencer Dylan Mulvaney, and transgender retired Navy officer and activist Shawn Skelly, who was appointed as assistant secretary of defense for readiness.
The administration faced some controversy, including a handful of incidents involving transgender individuals. One notable incident was the accusation of theft by Sam Brinton, a non-binary official who worked at the Department of Energy. Brinton was charged with stealing a woman’s suitcase at two different airports and was subsequently fired.
Another incident involved a transgender model and activist, Rose Montoya, who went topless and cupped her bare breasts while standing on the South Lawn of the White House during a Pride event. The incident was slammed by conservatives as an “international embarrassment” and Montoya was subsequently banned from visiting the White House.
Despite these controversies, the administration remained committed to promoting transgender rights. President Biden supported the transgender community during each of his State of the Union addresses, vowing to have their back and to ensure their safety and dignity.
The Biden administration’s support for transgender issues is expected to come to an end with the incoming Trump administration, which has vowed to ban biological males from women’s sports and to remove “woke” ideology from the military.