The Biden White House honoured a transwoman on International Women's Day, on Wednesday.
According to a press statement from the Department of State, 11 "extraordinary women from around the world who are working to build a brighter future for all" were honoured at this year's 17th annual event.
Alba Rueda, Argentina's Special Envoy for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was awarded the Women of Courage prize, according to the Daily Caller.
It was announced by the White House that Rueda, who was born a male, would receive the 17th annual Secretary of State's International Women of Courage Award for her "exceptional courage, strength, and leadership in advocating for peace, justice, human rights, gender equity and equality, and the empowerment of women and girls, in all their diversity," the release read.
Jill Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken presented the award to Rueda, who was introduced as "a transgender woman in Argentina who was kicked out of classrooms, barred from sitting for exams, refused job opportunities, subjected to violence, and rejected by [his] family," as stated by Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks.
Despite this, "he worked to end violence and discrimination against the LGBTQI+ community in Argentina," Hicks said.
“It’s International Women’s Day – a good time to remember that the Democrats can’t even tell you what a woman is,” she wrote.
“Why are the Democrats working overtime to push the trans agenda?" asked New Hampshire GOP House candidate and former White House assistant press secretary, Karoline Leavitt.
“Nice of FLOTUS to encourage the diminishment of women on ‘international women’s day’. Erasing women is abusive,” tweeted conservative radio host Dana Loesch.
Some people made jokes about the prize being awarded to Rueda, comparing her to transgender Assistant Health Secretary Rachel Levine and collegiate swimming champion Lia Thomas.
Justin Trudeau, prime minister of Canada, however, responded to the criticism by tweeting, "Trans women are women."
"We will always stand up to this hate — whenever and wherever it occurs," the tweet also read.
