The Biden administration presented a biological man a Women of Courage Award on International Women’s Day, and the internet is less than impressed with their “virtue signaling.”
The one day of the year that women’s achievements are celebrated and the spotlight is shone on women’s rights and gender equality on a global scale, First Lady Jill Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken honored a transgender woman.
Biden and Blinken hosted the 17th annual International Women of Courage Awards at the White House on Wednesday.
The ceremony paid tribute to “a group of 11 extraordinary women from around the world who are working to build a brighter future for all.”
Amongst the women who were awarded was Alba Rueda, a transgender woman, who serves as Argentina’s Special Envoy for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.
According to the State Department, Rueda is the first Argentine Undersecretary for Diversity Policies in the country’s recently formed Ministry of Women, Gender, and Diversity.
Rueda has fought for Argentina’s Marriage Equality Act and Gender Identity Act during her career as an activist.
She is considered “the driving force” behind the Transgender Labor Quota Act, which mandates that 1% of public sector employees must be transgender.
“In Argentina, Alba Rueda is a transgender woman who was kicked out of classrooms, barred from sitting for exams, refused job opportunities, subjected to violence, and rejected by her family,” remarked Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks as she introduced her.
“But in the face of these challenges she worked to end violence and discrimination against the LGBTQI+ community in Argentina,” Hicks said as Rueda was awarded by Biden and Blinken.
Predictably, Twitter had a lot to say about the Biden administration’s choice to give an award created for women to someone who wasn’t born as one.
“Infuriating. Slap in the face to women,” one woman complained.
“We fought too hard throughout history to allow this to happen in 2023.”
“This epitomizes the current state of the Union,” another woman concurred.
“The International Woman of Courage award goes to a man.”
“A fake Dr giving an award to a fake woman is sort of ironic,” someone pointed out about the First Lady.
“Somewhere out there, if we look really hard, super hard, we might be able to find a woman more qualified and deserving than this man to receive this award. Just maybe,” a Twitter user sarcastically added.
“It’s so hard to chose anymore,” someone snarked back.
“So much of it seems like it has to be “the very most ludicrous s–t I’ve ever seen” award recipient.”
“To be fair, it takes a lot of courage to wear a pastel poncho,” someone cracked about Rueda’s outfit choice.
“I just want to know which Olympic event he will be competing in next?” One person joked.
“Every day I get virtue signaling even more,” said podcast host Mike Sperrazza.
“I’m [about] to add feminist to my profile soon,” wrote Dominique Clare.
“This foolishness is getting outta hand.”
“Feminists are why this guy got selected for this award,” noted a replier.