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White House Press Secretary: ‘The President’s belief is that trans rights are human rights’

Psaki was fielding a rambling question about "trans girls and cis girls" competing in school sports

By Jamie Tabberer

Words: Jamie Tabberer; picture: Wiki

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said “trans rights are human rights” during a briefing this week.

The rising political star – who took on the role on 20 January, the day of Democrat Joe Biden’s US Presidential inauguration – was fielding a rambling question about trans and cis girls competing in school sports when she made the comment.

She also pointed to Biden’s Executive Order on Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation in her cool-headed answer.

“I’m not sure what your question is”

Asked by a Fox News Radio reporter: “What message would the White House have for trans girls and cis girls, who may end up competing against each other, in sparking some lawsuits and some concern among parents? So does the administration have guidance for schools on dealing with disputes arising over trans girls competing against and with cis girls?” Psaki simply replied: “I’m not sure what your question is.”

The reporter continued: “My question is, [does] the President have a message for local school officials on dealing with these kind of disputes that are already starting to arise between, you know, trans girls who are competing and cis girls, and a level playing field? Because particularly in high school sports, when it leads to college scholarships, is there any kind of messaging or clarification that the White House wants to give on the executive order?”

To this, Psaki replied: “I would just say that the President’s belief is that trans rights are human rights, and that’s why he signed that executive order.

“And in terms of the determinations by universities and colleges, I’d certainly defer to them.”

Days into his presidency, Biden also reversed Trump’s transgender military ban.

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