The Biden administration was roundly mocked and criticized on Wednesday after first lady Jill Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken handed a “Women of Courage” award to a biological male.
This year’s annual International Women of Courage Awards ceremony at the White House honored “11 extraordinary women from around the world who are working to build a brighter future for all,” said a State Department press release, per Fox News.
Argentinian Alba Rueda was introduced at the event as a “transgender woman who was kicked out of classrooms, barred for sitting for exams, refused job opportunities, subjected to violence, and rejected by her family. But in the face of these challenges, she worked to end violence and discrimination against the LGBTQ plus community in Argentina.”
Numerous Twitter commentators expressed their disbelief at the notion of awarding a person who was born male with a prize designated for women, Fox News reported.
“It’s International Women’s Day – a good time to remember that Democrats can’t even tell you what a woman is,” tweeted Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R).
It’s International Women’s Day – a good time to remember that Democrats can’t even tell you what a woman is. https://t.co/BPJ1fHhl5u
— Sarah Huckabee Sanders (@SarahHuckabee) March 8, 2023
“Nice of FLOTUS to encourage the diminishment of women on ‘international women’s day.’ Erasing women is abusive,” Dana Loesch, host of The Dana Show, added.
“International Women’s Day: Not just for women anymore,” conservative Twitter personality Andrea Katherine said in response.
Townhall columnist and radio personality Derek Hunter quipped: “Apparently men are a lot better at being women than women are. Step up your game, ladies.”
Common Sense Society’s Christopher Bedford bemoaned, “We are not a serious country.”
“The jokes write themselves…” said Claremont Institute president Ryan P. Williams.
“Why are the Democrats working overtime to push the trans agenda?” news commentator and former congressional nominee Karoline Leavitt wondered.
Buzz Patterson of RedState wrote: “Nothing screams ‘International Women of Courage Award’ like a dude.”
“This is disgraceful and unacceptable!” Republican National Hispanic Assembly national editorial board member Jennifer Barreto-Leyva offered.
Rueda’s current occupation is Argentina’s Special Envoy for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and Worship, Fox News reported.
The State Department said Rueda had “actively campaigned to change the name of the National Women’s Conference to the ‘Plurinational Conference of Women and Lesbian, Cross-Dresser, Transgender, Bisexual, Intersex and Non-Binary Persons’ to include diverse, dissident, and racialized identities.’”
