In response to Pope Francis’ recent declaration condemning gender theory, the White House has reiterated President Biden’s support for the transgender community.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addressed questions from reporters regarding the Pope’s document, affirming the administration’s commitment to advocating for the rights, safety, and dignity of LGBTQ+ individuals, including transgender people.
While declining to provide specific comments on the Pope’s document, Jean-Pierre emphasized President Biden’s consistent stance since the beginning of his administration. “The president will continue to be an advocate for the rights, safety, and dignity of the LGBTQ+ community, including transgender people here in the U.S.,” Jean-Pierre stated.
Pope Francis’ declaration, titled “Dignitas Infinita,” touches on various contemporary issues, including abortion, human trafficking, poverty, and euthanasia. Within the document, the Pope reiterates the Catholic Church’s stance on gender theory, cautioning against attempts to alter an individual’s immutable gender, which the Church sees as a misguided attempt to usurp divine authority.
The document asserts that human life, in both its physical and spiritual dimensions, is a gift from God to be accepted with gratitude. It criticizes gender theory for advocating personal self-determination outside of this fundamental truth, warning against the temptation to elevate oneself to the status of God.
Pope Francis has previously referred to gender ideology as one of the world’s “most dangerous ideological colonizations.” The document emphasizes the importance and beauty of sexual difference, particularly within male-female relationships, as the foundation for the miracle of new human life.
In addition to addressing gender theory, the document reaffirms the Church’s teachings on abortion and raises ethical concerns about surrogate pregnancies, for which the Pope has called for a global ban.
While the White House respects the internal policies of religious institutions, it remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing protections for the transgender community and promoting inclusivity and equality for all Americans.
President Biden’s administration continues to advocate for policies that uphold the rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ individuals in the United States and around the world.
