President Joe Biden insists “prejudiced” Americans are the driving force behind bills limiting transgender procedures for children.
During an event at the White House on Thursday, Biden was asked about states passing laws restricting medical procedures for transgender Americans.
The president began his response by touting steps he took to expand protections for the LGBT community such as ending a ban on transgender troops.
“But our fight is far, far from over,” Biden said.
He continued:
“We have some hysterical and I would argue prejudiced people who are engaged all [of] what you see going on around the country. It’s an appeal to fear and it’s an appeal that is totally, thoroughly unjustified and ugly.”
Watch the video below:
Biden: "It's wrong that extreme officials are pushing hateful bills targeting transgender children, terrifying families and criminalizing doctors. These are our kids." pic.twitter.com/M0mtXgJlPH
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) June 8, 2023
Biden went on, “It’s wrong that extreme officials are pushing hateful bills targeting transgender children, terrifying families, and criminalizing doctors. These are our kids.”
His comments about bills targeting transgender children appeared to be a reference to states that have banned transgender procedures for minors.
Earlier this month, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) made his state the 19th state in the country to implement such limits.
The legislation signed by Abbott prohibits children from receiving puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones.
According to the Williams Institute of UCLA, Texas has an estimated 28,000 transgender youth between the ages of 13 and 17.
It would also ban minors from undergoing surgical procedures.
Meanwhile, 21 states have passed laws limiting college and high school athletes to sports teams that correspond to their biological sex.