WASHINGTON – President Biden started a heated identity debate in less than 24 hours during his presidency when he signed an order on gender discrimination that has drawn criticism from critics accusing him of erasing women’s rights.
Language in order will enable transgender women to participate in women’s sports leagues.
The policy seeks to enforce a ruling by the Supreme Court last year that prohibits discrimination based on one’s gender identity and sexual orientation.
“Every person must be treated with respect and dignity and must be able to live without fear, no matter who he is or who he loves,” the order read, signed on Biden’s first day in office on Wednesday.
“Children should be able to learn without worrying about being denied access to the toilet, locker room or school sports.”
As more transgender athletes began to fight to participate in women’s sports, the debate grew over whether to compete on the same playing field, given the biological differences in endurance and muscle mass.
The implied politicization of gender in sport immediately provoked outrage with “#BidenErasedWomen” and “online# TERF’sThursday morning became one of the leading Twitter hashtags in the US, because two sides of the political debate came up with it.
TERF is an acronym for ‘trans-exclusive radical feminist’ and is seen as an obstacle to people who advocate feminist beliefs and distinguish biological women from trans women.
“The one-sided imposition of trans-ideology on a nation without thoughts for women’s rights is not how you create unity,” feminist activist Dr. Jane Clare Jones wrote in a tweet, criticizes the decision.
Wall Street Journal Reporter Abigail Shrier also took to Twitter to drop Biden’s order, which she said ‘unilaterally expands women’s sports’.
“An educational institution that receives federal funding must admit biological male athletes to women’s teams, women’s studies, etc.” A new glass ceiling has just been placed over girls, “Shrier said.
The LGB Alliance, a lesbian, gay and bisexual alliance group from the UK, also described as “transphobic”, said it was “terrified” by Biden’s order.
“We are upset about @potus’ executive order to erase the sex-based rights of women and girls,” read a tweet from the group.
‘This is a serious blow to women and girls in sports, prisons, rape shelters, hospitals, etc. And ban lesbians and gays from having our own spaces. We will help our American friends to oppose it. ”
Film director Sonia Poulton also dismissed the charge that she was ‘transphobic’ because she criticized Biden’s order.
‘I am called TERF because I believe that women have the right to our own sports, prisons, refuges and spaces, and because I believe that children should be protected from people who want to sexualise them and to confuse them about who they are. Happy to stand for what I do, ” she wrote.
Added another expert: “If you think opposition to biological advantage is transphobic, you’re an idiot.”
Trans activists have argued that the Biden government, which protects the rights of transgender Americans, does not deprive women of their rights.
“I see that #BidenErasedWomen is trending, it seems like a good time to remind everyone that transgender people existed in every recorded culture,” transgender activist and journalist wrote. Paris Lees.
“Biden simply said that he would not allow people like me to be discriminated against for using female toilets, as we have always done,” she added.
‘There is no evidence that it has caused problems for the rest of society. Trans people who use the toilets that they think are suitable are not new – however, it is the pressure to differentiate. ”