President Joe Biden issued an executive order Wednesday, June 15, to counter a cavalcade of "discriminatory legislative attacks against LGBTQI+ children and families" from red states in recent months. Pride flags were featured as part of the décor at the event. "Pride is back in the White House," said the President.
Biden's administration listed "safeguarding healthcare and programs designed to prevent youth suicide" as one of the ways the order would address the issue, as well as curbing federal funding of conversion practices and launching a new initiative to protect foster youth, improve access to federal programs, and prevent homelessness.
The executive order comes as a response to over 320 anti-LGBTQ+ bills passing in state governments nationwide over the past year.
"We're in a battle for the soul of the nation," the president said to a group of LGBTQ activists and Democratic lawmakers. "And when I look around this room here and at all of you here today, it's a battle I know we will win."
"All of you in this room know better than anyone else that these attacks are real and consequential for real families," he said before sitting to sign the order. He pointed to Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill and the arrest of 31 Patriot Front members near Idaho's Coeur d'Alene Pride as examples.
Biden also called on Congress to pass the Equality act, which would amend existing civil rights to explicitly include sexual orientation and gender identification as protected characteristics.
"My message to all the young people: Just be you," said Biden. "I want you to know that, as your president, all of us on this stage have your back.
The bill will tap into funding already allocated to federal agencies and will require no new funding to accomplish its goals.