The following is an excerpt from a White House Blog post by Brian Bond, the Deputy Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. Prior to working for President Obama, Mr. Bond served as the Executive Director of the Democratic National Committee’s Gay and Lesbian Leadership Council. Later today, the White House will host the Reception for LGBT Pride Month, commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. Watch the event live at http://www.whitehouse.gov/live.
Our own Executive Director, Jennifer Chrisler, will be attending the event as a guest. Read Jennifer’s thoughts on why accepting the President’s invitation is crucial to ensuring equality for LGBT families here.
“The Anniversary of Stonewall”
Posted by Brian Bond
As a gay kid growing up in rural Missouri - I never thought I would end up helping to organize an LGBT Pride event in the White House. Then again, I never thought I would ever realize my dream to work in the White House. But thanks to the historic election of Barack Obama, today I am honored to be working here.
To me, today’s event is more than just a reception honoring LGBT Pride month. It is an opportunity for the Administration to provide the world with a snap shot of the real heroes across the country that do the day-to-day work fighting for equality. People like State Representative Patricia Todd in Alabama to Sheriff Lupe Valdez in Dallas, and many other local LGBT elected officials that will be here today. And it’s people - ordinary families - that by simply living their lives openly are changing hearts and minds. It is also an opportunity to welcome the people upon whom shoulders we stand, people like Frank Kameny, as well as Phil Wilson, Bishop Robinson and Ambassador Hormel, who I know personally, and those who stood up to bigotry at Stonewall. I really wish people like Bayard Rustin could be standing here with us today. He would be up for the fight ahead of us and proud of the place we now stand.
Click here to read the post in full
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