Confirmed: White House Will Host LGBT Stonewall "Celebration"

Few details are released and the guest list is not announced, but the White House confirms earlier reports the Administration will host an end-of-month reception for power gays, described to the New York Times as a "celebration akin ... to St. Patrick’s Day or Cinco de Mayo."

As advocates for gays and lesbians intensify their criticism of the White House, President Obama has invited some of their leaders to an East Room reception next Monday to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion, the 1969 Greenwich Village demonstrations that gave birth to the modern gay rights movement.

The White House has not publicized the reception, and officials did not respond to e-mail requests for comment. But gay leaders from here and around the country said they had received either telephone calls from the White House or written invitations to the event, and were told Mr. Obama is expected to speak.

Some said it would take more than a reception to change their view that Mr. Obama has not been aggressive enough in pursuing gay rights. ... Whether Mr. Obama will address the complaints at Monday’s reception is unclear. One person who received the invitation said the White House was billing the event as a celebration, akin to the festive affairs the administration holds on St. Patrick’s Day or Cinco de Mayo. Another said the invitation included an offer to bring a guest. “They want people to understand that their partners are welcome,’’ said this person.

White House spokesman Shin Inouye says the event has been "long planned" and is an opportunity "to recognize the accomplishments of LGBT Americans."

In related news: John Aravosis at AMERICAblog reports the White House Deputy Chief of Staff and political director held a conference call earlier today with the "dozen or so" members of the Democratic National Committee's gay caucus. "Judging by the report I got from someone who was on the call, things went pretty much how the White House wanted them to go. 'What a waste of time. They took 3 questions, two of which were uncritical.'

The conference call was scheduled to respond to the growing unrest over the Justice Department's incendiary motion to dismiss a challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act, and, a highly-publicized boycott of this week's gay Democratic fundraiser.

Comments

[GRANT]

--->One person who received the invitation said the White House was billing the event as a celebration, akin to the festive affairs the administration holds on St. Patrick’s Day or Cinco de Mayo.

So does that mean the gays will put on silly hats and get drunk?

[Jackson]

Oh really? A cocktail party? How very fabulous!

and when they are suggesting the attendees bring a significant other, do you smell photo opp? remember ellen and anne heche holding hands in the oval office with clinton? and i'm not knocking bill, that was major for the 90s, we are just past all these little gestures like that

here we go again ...

[D. Askew]

I don't begrudge the "power gays" the invitation. When the White House calls, you come. It's just schmoozing and photos. I am more upset about the fundraisers and lack of action on our issues.

[Kevjack]

I am a little troubled by the administrations thinking on this. Do they think that a cocktail party with "A" gays will move the grassroots? Do they believe that these people will help them calm the masses? If so, they have a very wrong reading of what "gay and lesbian leadership" really means. Why does Obama always seem to prefer social gestures to actions on even mildly controversial issues? You can't (and shouldn't) be popular with everybody, and yet at every turn that it what he does. In the end it makes for bad policy and weak (or no) leadership.

[D. Askew]

i'd actually rather have our "fierce advocate" call harry reid and tell him to put the hate crimes bill up for a vote right now. i can toast to that, but this gay soiree? not so much

[Ras]

Obama's Super Bowl party with the Republicans didnt go so well. They ate his food, laughed with him and then refused to vote for his stimulus plan.

[Kelvin]

@ Rod:

So you'll be attending? :)
HaHa, yeah my gold engraved invitation arrived today, lol. -RM

[ReggieH]

VERY disappointing that Rod didn't get an invite!

And re the Conference Call - whose fault is it that it went 'the Administration's way'? The Admin, or those folks who called in and didn't ask hard questions?