White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre faced questions about Pope Francis’ declaration condemning gender theory on Monday, ultimately affirming President Biden’s support for the transgender community.
A reporter pressed Jean-Pierre regarding the Pope’s Monday document, which formally reaffirms and expands on the Catholic Church’s assertion that attempts to alter an individual’s immutable gender are ultimately misguided attempts to play God.
Jean-Pierre declined to say what Biden thought of the document specifically, but added that he does support the transgender community.
“We are pleased to see that the document… furthered the Vatican’s call to ensure that LGBTQ+ are protected from violence and imprisonment around the world. However, the president will continue to be an advocate for the rights, safety and dignity of the LGBTQ+ community, including transgender people here in the U.S.,” Jean-Pierre said in response to a reporter who asked for a response to the document.
“What about the more specific comments about gender theory and transgender individuals?” a reporter pressed.
“I’m going to be really careful. The president’s role to litigate internal Church policy, that’s not his role, so I’m gonna be super careful there,” Jean-Pierre said. “But I can speak to the president’s stance, and he’s always been very clear on the importance of protecting or having protections for the transgender community and the broader LGBTQ+ community, and that’s been very clear since day one of his administration.”
