
Biden Administration Actions Addressing Life, Family, and Religious Freedom
In his inaugural address on January 20, 2021, President Joe Biden made a firm commitment to unity: "Today, on this January day, my whole soul is in this: Bringing America together. Uniting our people. And Uniting our Nation." These words, while comforting, now appear to be nothing but a hollow promise. Biden's presidency thus far has been marked by actions that have further divided our nation, especially when it comes to the issues of life, family, and religious freedom. His administration has moved more aggressively than any previous presidential administration to undo federal pro-life policies and promote abortion, dismantle the biological realities of men and women in federal policy, and promote the LGBT agenda. He has also failed to uphold religious freedom in a satisfactory fashion, both at home and abroad.
In all of this, the Biden administration has seemed to be driven more by ideology than by the truth. Here are the top 5 lies that have been perpetuated by this administration:
- Weakened safety standards for the abortion pill regimen do not pose a threat to women.
- Military readiness requires taxpayers to cover abortion-related expenses for servicemembers.
- Self-perceived gender identity always overrides biological distinctions between the sexes.
- Civically engaged American citizens are violent domestic terrorists.
- Protecting minors from harmful, irreversible gender reassignment procedures is illegal discrimination and potentially fatal.
To see a full list of the Biden administration's actions on life, family, and religious freedom separated by year, click the arrows below.
Life
- Repealed the Trump administration's Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance Policy (PLGHA), which prohibited global health funds from going to foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that perform or promote abortion.
- Withdrew from the U.S.-led Geneva Consensus Declaration, a 34-country agreement that declared abortion is not an international human right and should never be promoted as a method of family planning.
- Took steps to resume funding of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which continues to partner with China despite the country's coercive abortion and sterilization practices.
- Ordered a review of the Trump administration's Protect Life Rule that governed Title X family planning funding.
Family and Religious Freedom
- Revoked President Trump's memorandum on "Military Service by Transgender Individuals" dated March 23, 2018, and disregarded the in-depth DOD study that was the foundation of this memorandum. The study details the harms of allowing those who identify as transgender to openly serve according to their gender identity.
- Stated that someone's gender identity should not bar them from military service.
- Cited the Obama administration-era DOD study that erroneously concluded: "permitting transgender individuals to serve openly in the military was consistent with military readiness and with strength through diversity."
- Established the policy that all transgender individuals who want to serve in the military and "can meet the appropriate standards" should be able to do so openly and free from discrimination.
- Directed the DOD and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to implement this policy.
- "Ensure appropriate training is in place so that relevant Federal Government personnel and key partners can effectively identify and respond to the particular needs of LGBTQI+ refugees and asylum seekers, including by providing to them adequate assistance and ensuring that the Federal Government takes all appropriate steps, such as potential increased use of Embassy Priority-1 referrals, to identify and expedite resettlement of highly vulnerable persons with urgent protection needs."
- "Consider appropriate responses, including using the full range of diplomatic and assistance tools and, as appropriate, financial sanctions, visa restrictions, and other actions" when "foreign governments move to restrict the rights of LGBTQI+ persons or fail to enforce legal protections in place, thereby contributing to a climate of intolerance."
- Rescind inconsistent policies and report on progress.
- The accompanying fact sheet says: "The Partnerships Office's initial work will include collaborating with civil society to: address the COVID-19 pandemic and boost economic recovery; combat systemic racism; increase opportunity and mobility for historically disadvantaged communities; and strengthen pluralism. The office will also support agency partnerships that advance the United States Government's diplomatic, international development, and humanitarian work around the world." This shift replaces the priority of preserving religious liberty with a priority of ensuring that religious entities who want to work with the government do not operate according to their religious beliefs that are counter to LGBT ideology.
- "The Department of State, the Department of Labor, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) are "leveraging diplomatic engagement and foreign assistance to promote practices and policies […] including efforts which lead to the decriminalization of consensual same-sex status."
- "The Department of State-managed Global Equality Fund (GEF), which is a public-private partnership of like-minded governments, businesses, and foundations that supports civil society programs to […] provides assistance to locally-owned efforts to advance law reform."
- "Since its launch in 2011, the Global Equality Fund has provided more than $83 million in funding through small grants, emergency and rapid response assistance, and support for more than 50 technical assistance projects in more than 100 countries worldwide."
- "USAID manages the Multi-Donor LGBTI Global Human Rights Initiative, which leverages financial and technical contributions from Sweden and Canada to support locally-led LGBTQI+ organizations."
- "Creating a Gender Expansive guidance workgroup formed to develop a Departmental Regulation (DR) for transitioning employees, including for transgender, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary individuals;
- "Producing guidance for the use of Gender Inclusive language in all agencies' internal and external communications;
- "Developing guidance and streamlining processes to eliminate barriers and expedite IT systems updates to reflect correct gender identity for transitioning employees;
- "Developing guidelines for collections and utilization of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) data in employment and USDA programs to ensure a diverse workforce; and
- "Holding LGBTQI+ External Stakeholder listening sessions with Deputy Secretary Bronaugh."
- Directs HHS and ED to advance a radical agenda regarding human sexuality:
- HHS is directed to protect access to medical experimentation that has demonstrable harms, especially to children.
- HHS is directed to target therapy for those struggling with unwanted same-sex attraction or gender confusion and to consider banning such therapy.
- The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is encouraged to consider deeming such therapy an “unfair or deceptive practice.”
- HHS is directed to establish an initiative to partner with state child welfare agencies that will surely be designed to hinder the ability of faith-based providers to assist those in need in their communities.
- ED is directed to take actions that will lead to the further indoctrination of children and push a radical gender ideology that is harmful to female students and more.