4/2/2024 correction: American Egg Board President Emily Metz noted that the “overtly religious” guideline has been around for years, saying, “The American Egg Board has been a supporter of the White House Easter Egg Roll for over 45 years and the guideline language referenced in recent news reports has consistently applied to the board since its founding, across administrations.”
As part of its annual Easter Egg art competition amongst the children of National Guard families, the Biden White House has banned religious designs from the Easter art contest. In the flier announcing the contest and rules, it lumps religious symbols in with “questionable content.” The art contest is part of the White House’s annual Easter tradition.
As background, the White House has numerous Easter traditions for families. One such famous event is the annual Easter Egg Roll, and another is the art contest for the children of National Guardsmen. Despite it being an Easter event, “overtly religious themes” have been prohibited by the White House for the art contest.
Such is what the Biden White House announced in a flyer about the event. “Celebrating Easter is one of the oldest time-honored traditions at the White House. Since 1878, American presidents and their families have celebrated Easter Monday by hosting an ‘egg roll’ party. Held on the South Lawn, it is one of the oldest annual events in White House history. It has changed and evolved through the years and each First Family has put their stamp on the popular event. As part of the White House Easter traditions, America’s Egg Farmers – for nearly 50 years – have proudly presented an intricately decorated Commemorative Easter Egg to the First Lady of the United States. In 2021, the White House expanded on this longstanding tradition by displaying youth-designed Easter eggs in the White House East Colonnade,” the flyer began, giving the historical background to the event.
Continuing, it described what should be submitted, saying, “Children should depict on an egg template (see Art Submission form) a snapshot of their life – a favorite activity, scenery in your state, your military family, a day-in-your life, etc. Selected designs representing the unique experience and stories of National Guard children will be brought to life on real hen eggs by talented egg artists from across the country and displayed at the White House this Easter and Passover season.”
Buried underneath, in the “Restrictions” section of the guidelines, the flyer expressly forbade religious themes from the Easter art designs, saying, “The Submission must not include any questionable content, religious symbols, overtly religious themes, or partisan political statements.”
The Biden White House also announced on Good Friday that Easter Sunday this year would be “Transgender Day of Visibility,” saying, “NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 31, 2024, as Transgender Day of Visibility. I call upon all Americans to join us in lifting up the lives and voices of transgender people throughout our Nation and to work toward eliminating violence and discrimination based on gender identity.”
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Describing the Easter Egg Roll, the White House said, “A teacher for more than 30 years, First Lady Jill Biden is continuing her theme of ‘EGGucation’ for the event, transforming the South Lawn and Ellipse into a school community, full of fun educational activities for children of all ages to enjoy.”
Featured image credit: By The White House – F20230410ES-0790, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=130964734