Biden, Easter, and Transgender Visibility Day Ramifications

On Good Friday, the most somber day on the Christian calendar, President Biden issued "A Proclamation on Transgender Day of Visibility, 2024," which paid homage to Transgender Day of Visibility which this year came on Easter Sunday, the holiest of days for Christians. 

Social conservatives lashed out at the president, and progressives fired back. Just another day in the culture wars. But will any of it matter in November?

Looking at the polls, transgender issues have varying support depending on the specific issue being examined. A YouGov survey from earlier this year found that most people supported including protections for transgender people in hate-crime laws, with 58% supporting protections and 22% opposing. 

However, when it came to allowing transgender athletes to compete on sports teams that matched their chosen gender identity, only 19% supported it, and 59% opposed. Another issue with broad opposition was allowing children to attend drag shows, which 32% supported and 48% opposed.

Another factor to consider, especially with Transgender Day of Visibility coinciding with Easter, is the religiosity of Americans. Recent Gallup polls indicate a gradual decline in religious observance over time. 

Currently, 75% of Americans still identify with a specific religious faith, with 68% identifying as Christian, 2% identifying as Jewish, and 5% identifying with another religion. However, although most still identify with a religion, the percentage of people who identified religion as “Very Important” in their lives has steadily decreased over time from 58% in 2010 to 45% in 2023. At the same time, the number of people who said religion was “Not Very Important” increased from 20% in 2010 to 28% in 2023.

Attendance at religious services has also gone down, with 39% in 2010 reporting they went to a religious service weekly, and 32% in 2023. Church membership has also decreased significantly, with 61% of Americans saying they were a member of a church in 2010, compared to only 45% in 2023.