Lucasfilm on Wednesday revealed a cover of its "Star Wars: The High Republic" comic book on Wednesday featuring two "trans non-binary" characters for International Transgender Day of Visibility.
A post on Lucasfilm's Instagram account read:
In honor of #TransDayOfVisibility we're proud to unveil an exclusive cover highlighting Terec and Ceret, trans non-binary Jedi, currently featured in Marvel's The High Republic comic. We support trans lives and we are passionate and committed to broadening our representation in a galaxy far far way #TDOV
The post was made the same day President Joe Biden signed a proclamation recognizing Transgender Day of Visibility and those who have pioneered the movement in bringing awareness to discrimination and violence faced by transgender people.
"Their trailblazing work has given countless transgender individuals the bravery to live openly and authentically," Biden's proclamation reads. "This hard-fought progress is also shaping an increasingly accepting world in which peers at school, teammates and coaches on the playing field, colleagues at work, and allies in every corner of society are standing in support and solidarity with the transgender community."
"The crisis of violence against transgender women, especially transgender women of color, is a stain on our Nation’s conscience," he added.
"To more fully protect the civil rights of transgender Americans, we must pass the Equality Act and provide long overdue Federal civil rights protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity," Biden wrote. "It will serve as a lasting legacy to the bravery and fortitude of the LGBTQ+ movement."
Also on Wednesday, the Pentagon swept away Trump-era policies that largely banned transgender people from serving in the military, issuing new rules that offer them wider access to medical care and assistance with gender transition.
The new department regulations allow transgender people who meet military standards to enlist and serve openly in their self-identified gender, and they will be able to get medically necessary transition-related care authorized by law, chief Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters during a briefing.
The changes come after a two-month Pentagon review aimed at developing guidelines for the new policy, which was announced by Biden just days after he took office in January.
Biden's executive order overturned the Trump policy and immediately prohibited any service member from being forced out of the military on the basis of gender identity. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin then gave the Pentagon two months to finalize the more detailed regulations that the military services will follow.
They will take effect in 30 days. Kirby said that will give the military services the time they need to update their policies and provide guidance to commanders.
Lucasfilm earlier this year fired Mandalorian actress Gina Carano following controversial social media posts.
"Gina Carano is not currently employed by Lucasfilm and there are no plans for her to be in the future," a spokesperson for Lucasfilm said at the time. "Nevertheless, her social media posts denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities are abhorrent and unacceptable."
Carano called her firing "bullying," saying, "I've been through so much, and I've seen so much now, clearly, of the bullying that's been taking place, and I saw it before ... I'm not the only one that's ever been bullied by this company, and I know that so deeply. I could share a story which would turn things around in the media, but I can't because it would sell out a friend ... Everyone is afraid of losing their job."
The Associated Press contributed.
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