President Biden Seeks To Counter State Actions He Sees As Anti-LGBTQ
Newsy
An executive order is discouraging "conversion therapy" — a discredited practice that aims to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity.
President Joe Biden issued an executive order Wednesday to stymie what what he called discriminatory legislative attacks on the LGBTQ community by Republican-controlled states, declaring before a signing ceremony packed with activists, "pride is back at the White House."
The order seeks to discourage "conversion therapy" — a discredited practice that aims to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity — while also promoting gender-affirming surgery and expanding foster care protections for gay and transgender parents and children.
Tapping money already allocated to federal agencies rather than requiring new funding, President Biden said the order is meant to counter 300-plus anti-LGBTQ laws introduced by state lawmakers over the past year alone. The Department of Health and Human Services will draft new policies to expand care to LGBTQ families and the Education Department will devise rules to better protect LGBTQ students in public schools.
