Connect with us

National

White House silent on couple’s Easter request for exec order

Measure would bar anti-LGBT bias among federal contractors

Published

14 years ago

on

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney (Blade file photo by Michael Key)

The White House remains mum about the idea of President Obama issuing an executive order requiring federal contractors to bar discrimination against LGBT workers — despite a call Monday for him to take action from a gay couple that participated in the annual Easter Egg Roll event.

Under questioning from NBC News’ Kristen Welker on Monday, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said he has no updates on “possible or proposed executive orders” when asked to respond to the gay couple’s request.

“I don’t have updates for you on possible or proposed executive orders,” Carney said. “I would note that we’re delighted that that couple and many others were delighted to attend the Easter Egg Roll and, again, I don’t have anything more on the executive order.”

Jarrod Scarbrough and Les Sewell, who hail from Albuquerque, N.M., and have been partners for 18 years, intended to ask Obama to issue an executive order requiring companies doing business with the federal government to have non-discrimination policies protecting LGBT workers during the White House Easter Egg Roll on Monday.

Asked by NBC News about why the couple was attending the event, Carney said the couple was invited along with other “families of all kinds” that had been asked to attend.

“Well, they’re here because they were invited and the president — you know, many, many people — families of all kinds are invited to this wonderful event and the president is delighted that they and others were able to attend,” Carney said.

Asked to comment further on the couple’s actions, Carney reiterated previous comments he’s made in response to LGBT-related inquiries on Obama’s record on LGBT issues.

“I don’t have anything for you on a specific executive order,” Carney said. “What I can tell you is, I think, the president’s position on LGBT issues — record, rather — is well known and one that he and we are very proud of.”

The exchange marks the first time that a mainstream media outlet has publicly questioned an administration official about the proposed executive order. Previously, all inquiries had come from the LGBT press.

During a conference call with reporters Monday, Scarbrough said he’s seeking the executive order because he works for a federal contractor, United Healthcare. According to the Human Rights Campaign’s 2012 Corporate Equality Index, the company already has non-discrimination policies set up inclusive of sexual orientation and gender identity.

But Scarbrough said he “felt it was important to push President Obama on an executive order” because United Healthcare’s policy is voluntary and he’s being relocated to Florida, which has no statutory non-discrimination protections for LGBT people in the workplace.

“Because of those reasons, I feel that it is important to advocate for myself, my family and any other families around the nation who are affected by this as well,” Scarbrough said.

But the couple didn’t have the opportunity to speak with Obama. Heather Cronk, managing director of GetEQUAL, told the Washington Blade, “He was gone by the time their slot was up.”

The couple is one voice in a growing choir that is urging Obama to take action. Last week, 72 House Democrats wrote a letter to Obama urging him to issue the order. The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund became the first non-LGBT civil rights group to endorse the executive order.

Multiple sources have said the Labor and Justice Departments have cleared such a measure, but the White House has remained silent on whether it will take such action.

Since the executive order is similar in its goal to the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the directive has sometimes been referred to as the “ENDA” executive order. However, the order would be more limited in scope because it only affects federal contractors.

A transcript of the exchange between NBC News and Carney follows:

NBC News: And on a separate note, Jay, a New Mexico same-sex couple brought their eight-year-old daughter to the White House today for the Easter Egg Roll, in part to send a message to the President that he should sign an executive order that would ban workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation. Does he plan to sign this executive order?

Jay Carney: I don’t have updates for you on possible or proposed executive orders. I would note that we’re delighted that that couple and many others were delighted to attend the Easter Egg Roll and, again, I don’t have anything more on the executive order.

NBC News: Does the president have a reaction to the fact that they’re here and that they —

Carney: Well, they’re here because they were invited and the president — you know, many, many people — families of all kinds are invited to this wonderful event and the president is delighted that they and others were able to attend.

NBC News: But as you know, they’ve been speaking out. They’ve been speaking to various members of the press about this issue, and —

Carney: Well, again, I don’t have anything for you on a specific executive order. What I can tell you is, I think, the president’s position on LGBT issues — record, rather — is well known and one that he and we are very proud of.

Related Topics:
Advertisement
FUND LGBTQ JOURNALISM
SIGN UP FOR E-BLAST

National

Lou Chibbaro Jr. documentary wins award from NLGJA

‘Lou’s Legacy’ produced by D.C.’s Mattachine Society

Published

21 hours ago

on

September 2, 2026

By

“Lou’s Legacy: a Reporter’s Life at the Washington Blade,” a documentary produced by The Mattachine Society of Washington, D.C., will receive an Excellence in Journalism Award from NLGJA, the Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists. 

The film premiered on WETA PBS in D.C. and Maryland Public Television (MPT) in June of 2025. The documentary’s Emmy-nominated director and producer Patrick Sammon will accept the award for Excellence in Local Television on Sept. 11 at NLGJA’s National Convention in San Francisco. 

“Lou’s Legacy” was produced in association with the Mattachine Society of Washington, D.C., a non-profit LGBTQ history society dedicated to conducting original archival research. Aside from Sammon, the NLGJA is recognizing other members of the film’s production team including Producer Julianne Donofrio, Editor Amir Jaffer, Executive Producer Charles Francis, and Executive Producer Pate Felts.  

“Lou’s Legacy” tells the story of two D.C. icons — legendary Washington Blade reporter Lou Chibbaro Jr. and beloved drag performer Donnell Robinson, known to generations of Washington audiences as “Ella Fitzgerald.” Through Lou’s nearly five-decade career at the Blade and Ella’s return to the stage after a three-year hiatus following COVID, the 29-minute documentary explores the history of Washington’s LGBTQ community and today’s rising backlash against LGBTQ rights, including laws targeting drag performers. 

“All students of journalism can learn a lot from the story of Lou Chibbaro, Jr. Lou has chronicled nearly five decades of LGBTQ+ life and the community’s struggle for equality in Washington, D.C. Lou’s work and the role of the queer press has been essential in covering stories the mainstream media would often ignore or erase,” said Ryan Levi, president of the D.C. chapter of the NLGJA.  

“We are thrilled to receive this award from the NLGJA,” said the film’s director Patrick Sammon. “Lou Chibbaro’s nearly five decade career at the Washington Blade demonstrates the essential role LGBTQ journalism plays in telling our community’s stories and documenting its history. This recognition from journalists who follow in Lou’s footsteps is particularly meaningful to me and the rest of our production team.”

Continue Reading

Arizona

Shooting outside gay bar in Ariz. leaves three dead

Tucson police investigating double murder-suicide as a hate crime

Published

2 days ago

on

September 1, 2026

By

The shooting happened outside Venture-N bar in Tucson, Ariz. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

Three people were fatally shot outside a gay bar in Tucson, Ariz., early Monday morning, about a mile from the city’s nightlife district.

Police have said the shooting, which took place in the parking lot of Venture-N bar at 1239 N. 6th Ave., was likely a hate crime and a double murder-suicide following a verbal altercation.

The suspect, Ousman Ceesay, allegedly shot Vincent Anthony Siqueiros and Cameron Davis Capara while they were outside the club around 12:30 a.m. Monday.

Reports show Capara and Siqueiros were pronounced dead at the scene. Ceesay died after being taken to a local hospital with gunshot wounds.

Police have also said that Ceesay was carrying a list of LGBTQ businesses at the time of the shooting.

Arizona Public Media has said police are investigating the case as a hate crime because the suspect was carrying a note containing the names of multiple LGBTQ-associated businesses.

“I am deeply saddened that another senseless loss of life has happened in our community,” Tucson Police Chief Monica Prieto said in a statement. “Bias-based crimes are especially heinous and have no place in our community.”

According to Prieto, there is no imminent threat to the community, and the Tucson Police Department is working to provide extra protection to various LGBTQ businesses across town.

Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva, who represents the area, issued a statement condemning the act of violence, which appears to have been at least in part motivated by homophobia.

“I am disgusted and deeply saddened to learn of a targeted act of hate and the cold-blooded murder of two members of our LGBTQIA+ community, Vincent Siqueiros and Cameron Capara, at the Venture-N bar in Tucson last night. This horrific attack is a painful reminder that even in welcoming communities like Tucson, hate and violence against the LGBTQIA+ community still exist.”

“When that hate is combined with easy access to firearms, the consequences can be deadly. I am sick and tired of Congress refusing to lift a finger to protect our communities while, every day, dozens of people are shot and killed across the country. It does not have to be this way. The House of Representatives is returning to session this week, and our first action should be passing common-sense gun safety reforms that we know can save lives.”

Other federal lawmakers also condemned the shooting.

The Congressional Equality Caucus, which is made up of federal legislators advancing LGBTQ interests, issued a statement after news broke.

“Our hearts are with the friends and loved ones of the victims of this devastating attack outside a Tucson gay bar and with the Tucson LGBTQI+ community,” it said on X. “No one should fear violence because of who they are — and we’re going to continue fighting to build a world where no one does.”

The Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBTQ organization in the country, released a statement following the shooting.

“We are heartbroken by the loss of Vincent Anthony Siqueiros and Cameron Davis Capara and our hearts are with their families, loved ones, and the entire Tucson LGBTQ+ community. Once again, we are reminded that gun violence robs people of their lives, destroys families, and devastates communities.”

A candlelight vigil honoring the victims is planned for Sept. 2 at 6:30 p.m. at Catalina Park in North Tucson.

Continue Reading

Congress

HRC president campaigns for Chris Pappas in NH

Gay congressman running to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen

Published

3 days ago

on

August 31, 2026

By

Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson, left, campaigns with U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) in Manchester, N.H., on Aug. 30, 2026. (Photo courtesy of the Human Rights Campaign)

Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson on Sunday campaigned for U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) in New Hampshire.

Robinson traveled to Manchester, the state’s largest city, nine days before the Sept. 8 primary that will determine who will vie for retiring U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.)’s seat.

Former U.S. Sen. John E. Sununu, who represented New Hampshire in the U.S. Senate from 2003-2009, will face off against former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, who represented Massachusetts in the U.S. Senate from 2010-2013, in the Republican primary.

Karishma Manzur is among the Democrats challenging Pappas.

A poll the University of New Hampshire Survey Center released on Aug. 26 shows Sununu is ahead of Brown. The same survey shows Pappas ahead of Manzur and his other Democratic challengers.

The UNH Survey Center poll shows Sununu ahead of Pappas by a 45-43 percent margin if they were to face off in the general election. The margin of error is +/-2.1 percent.

Pappas would become the first openly gay man elected to the U.S. Senate if he were to win in November.

Continue Reading

Popular