White House Pride reception set for June 15

(Blade file photo by Michael Key)

The White House intends a hold a reception to celebrate the month of Pride on June 15, according to a White House official.

The gatherings are an annual event at the White House and have taken place during each of the three previous years of the Obama administration.

At each of the events so far, President Obama has appeared with first lady Michelle Obama to address attendees, who have largely been made up of leaders in the LGBT community. Last year, Obama announced his intent to certify the end of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in a matter of “weeks, not months.”

The event this year will take place more one month after Obama declared his support for marriage equality, which has been praised by LGBT people, and two months after the White House announced Obama won’t issue at this time an executive order barring federal contractors from discriminating against LGBT people, a move that has been met with disappointment.