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| President Obama will host several LGBT leaders at a White House reception Monday. (Photo by Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP) | |
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By CHRIS JOHNSON, Washington Blade
Jun 26 2009, 5:31 PM |
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UPDATED: Jun 29, 10:42 AM
President Obama has invited a several key players in the LGBT community for a White House reception Monday to celebrate Pride month.
Shin Inouye, a White House spokesperson, said in a statement the event "is a chance for the White House to recognize the accomplishments of LGBT Americans."
"Invited guests include families, volunteers and activists, and community leaders," he said. "This event was long planned as a way to applaud these individuals during Pride month."
The event comes as many activists are urging the president to take greater action on LGBT issues including the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
When questioned about the event Friday during a briefing, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said the president doesn't plan to make any substantive announcements at the reception regarding DOMA or "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
A number of invitees told the Blade they are nonetheless interested in attending and hope to speak with Obama.
Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement that he's attending the event because he believes the objectives of the LGBT community "require us to be present and to use every opportunity for dialogue and discussion even when we strongly disagree on the level of progress that's been made."
"I believe the president will deliver an address on the state of LGBT equality and it's important to hear those remarks first-hand and have the opportunity to talk directly to the president and members of his administration," he said.
Solmonese said he would continue to the press Obama and Congress to deliver on "basic and overdue protections," such as passing hate crimes legislation and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, as well repealing DOMA and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
"I continue to respect President Obama and believe we can achieve our goals for equality in partnership with this Administration," Solmonese said.
Robert Raben, a gay consultant and a U.S. assistant attorney general for legislative affairs under President Clinton, also is among the invitees.
Raben said it was "remarkable" for Obama to hold the event and noted a distinct contrast between the sitting president and former President George W. Bush.
"Going will help me get over lingering anger I harbor toward the last president, who for eight years showed singular success as an anti-gay leader," he said. "President Obama promises to be a real leader on LGBT equality and I am eager to do whatever I can to do the work to fulfill that promise."
Another invitee, Servicemembers United Executive Director Alex Nicholson, said he plans to attend because those who have been affected by "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" should be "at the head of the table in dealing with this issue in the political arena."
"If I am afforded any time with the president, I plan on using the opportunity to drive home the point that a highly educated, well trained Army human intelligence collector who speaks five languages, including Arabic, is ready and willing to return to military service on the day the ban is lifted," he said, "and that nothing could be better for our national security and defense efforts than for this to happen sooner rather than later."
Robyn Ochs, a bisexual activist with BiNet USA, a nonprofit for bisexual Americans, said she plans on attending to represent bisexual people, which she called an "identity group that is often overlooked both within our beautiful LGBTQ community as well as in mainstream society."
"I want the president to understand our impatience," she said. "While we are waiting for inequalities to be corrected, we remain second-class citizens, and people are harmed every day."
She decried, among other issues, how 265 service members have been discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and how gay bi-national couples are often kept apart under current immigration law.
"We need concrete action, and we need it now," Ochs said. "This is the best presidential administration I've ever lived under, and my expectations are high."
Other confirmed invitees include:
• Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force;
• Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network;
• Jim Hormel, a former U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg and the first openly gay U.S. ambassador;
• Fred Hochberg, who's gay and chair of the U.S. Export-Import Bank;
• Stampp Corbin, a San Diego-based gay activist who supported Obama during the presidential campaign;
• Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach, an Air Force pilot who was discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
• and Kevin Naff, editor of the Washington Blade.
Gay U.S. Reps. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and Jared Polis (D-Colo.) were not slated to attend the event because they have commitments out of town, spokespersons said.
Jerilyn Goodman, a spokesperson for Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), the only out lesbian in Congress, said the congresswoman has yet not decided whether she'll be available to attend.
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