No, Joe Biden did not ‘replace’ Easter Sunday with Transgender Day of Visibility

By: Azra Ali
April 4 2024

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Screenshot of the viral posts.(Source:X/Facebook/Screenshot)

What is the claim?

Social media users have claimed that U.S. President Joe Biden announced that Easter Sunday will now be celebrated as Transgender Day of Visibility. Easter is a prominent Christian festival that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. The date of Easter Sunday changes every year, as it is based on the lunar calendar and is observed on the first Sunday after the first full moon that follows the spring equinox. This year, it was observed on March 31. 

Users have also claimed that Biden has "replaced" and "traded" Easter to mark the Transgender Day of Visibility. Archived examples of such posts can be found here, here, here, and here.

Screenshot of the viral posts.(Source:X/Facebook/Screenshot)

However, the claim is misleading. Transgender Day of Visibility is observed on March 31 every year and coincided with Easter Sunday this year. 

How did we verify this?

Transgender Day of Visibility was started in 2009 by activist and trans advocate Rachel Crandall Crocker and is celebrated every year on March 31. According to its official website, it was established as a "reaction to the lack of recognition of trans people, noting that the only well-known gender diversity-centered day was the Trans Day of Remembrance, a day of mourning."

On March 29, 2024, the White House released a statement titled "A Proclamation on Transgender Day of Visibility, 2024," which acknowledged the struggle of the transgender community in America. In the statement, President Biden noted that March 31, 2024, will be marked as the "Transgender Day of Visibility." However, the statement made no such comment that Easter Sunday celebrations would be "replaced."

Biden also issued a statement celebrating Easter on March 31, 2024, saying, "Jill and I send our warmest wishes to Christians around the world celebrating Easter Sunday. Easter reminds us of the power of hope and the promise of Christ's Resurrection."

Biden previously acknowledged TDOV in 2023 as well. Last year, Easter Sunday fell on April 9. We also found that Biden has been issuing similar statements on March 31 since 2021, the year he became President.

The Associated Press reported on April 1, 2024, that Easter Sunday celebrations were held at the White House as usual.

The verdict

President Biden has acknowledged the Transgender Day of Visibility since 2021, and this year, it happened to fall on the same day as Easter Sunday. Easter Sunday celebrations were not "replaced" or "traded" for this day. Therefore, we have marked this claim as misleading.