Since the inauguration of President Biden on Jan. 20, many policies and executive orders have been passed in support of the LGBTQ+ community and other anti-discrimination efforts. Below is a chronological list of all Joe Biden’s executive orders that combat discrimination.
Jan. 20, 2021: President Biden made the Proclamation on Ending Discriminatory Bans on Entry to The United States, such as the “Muslim Ban.” He stated in this proclamation that “the United States was built on a foundation of religious freedom and tolerance, a principle enshrined in the United States Constitution.”
Jan. 20, 2021: The president issued the Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government. He stated that “equal opportunity is the bedrock of American democracy, and our diversity is one of our country's greatest strengths.”
Jan. 20, 2021: The president made the Proclamation on the Termination Of Emergency With Respect To The Southern Border Of The United States And Redirection Of Funds Diverted To Border Wall Construction. The southern border wall will no longer be built and funds will be redirected elsewhere.
Jan. 20, 2021: President Biden passed an order Preserving and Fortifying Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which deferred the removal of certain undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children, have obeyed the law and have stayed in school or enlisted in the military.
Jan. 20, 2021: The president passed the Executive Order on Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation. This order states that “every person should be treated with respect and dignity and should be able to live without fear, no matter who they are or whom they love.”
Jan. 26, 2021: The president issued the Executive Order on Reforming Our Incarceration System to Eliminate the Use of Privately Operated Criminal Detention Facilities, which will streamline the prison systems but not outlaw private prisons entirely.
Jan. 26, 2021: The president issued the Memorandum Condemning and Combating Racism, Xenophobia, and Intolerance Against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. This states that “advancing inclusion and belonging for people of all races, national origins, and ethnicities is critical to guaranteeing the safety and security of the American people.”
Jan. 26, 2021: The president passed the Memorandum on Redressing Our Nation’s and the Federal Government’s History of Discriminatory Housing Practices and Policies, which actively works towards reforming and becoming more inclusive in the mortgage/ public housing process.
Jan. 28, 2021: President Biden issued the Executive Order on Strengthening Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. They reopened enrollment and are hoping to have more people covered by Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act in the future.
Jan. 28, 2021: The Biden administration issued the Memorandum on Protecting Women’s Health at Home and Abroad. This order states that “Government must take action to ensure that women at home and around the world are able to access complete medical information, including with respect to their reproductive health.”
Feb. 2, 2021: The president passed the Executive Order on the Establishment of Interagency Task Force on the Reunification of Families. This states that “[Biden’s] administration condemns the human tragedy that occurred when our immigration laws were used to intentionally separate children from their parents or legal guardians (families), including through the use of the Zero-Tolerance Policy.”
By Freya Dahlgren, Staff Writer