On June 28, Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff hosted a reception in partnership with GLAAD to celebrate LGBTQ Pride Month and to urge leaders to unite in the fight for LGBTQ+ acceptance and equality, per a press release.
RuPaul's Drag Race season 15 winner and trans-rights advocate Sasha Colby emceed the program, and other speakers included Second Gentleman Emhoff as well as GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis.
The program featured a performance from Tony-winning nonbinary actor Alex Newell, who sang Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance with Somebody." Sam Charney, a young LGBTQ+ advocate from Colorado who wrote to Harris about gun-violence prevention, introduced Harris at the event.
In part, Harris said, "Pride Month is about celebrating those whose shoulders we stand on for their work to advance civil rights, and an opportunity to recommit ourselves to the fight for equal rights. The LGBTQ+ movement is an expression of our love of our country and is rooted in an unwavering belief in the promise of freedom, equality, and justice. As Pride Month comes to a close, let us remember that pride is, and has always been, patriotic. And, as we confront the attacks on LGBTQ+ rights across the country, let us remember that we are in this together."
Just a few of the guests included White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre; Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Rachel Levine; Pulse shooting survivor and Equality Florida Press Secretary Brandon J. Wolf, trans journalists Dawn Ennis and Erin Reed; Oscar-winning actress Ariana DeBose; DJ G FLIP; athlete/actor Gus Kenworthy; White House Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer Michael Leach; and singer Sophie B. Hawkins.
Andrew Davis