Posted on 06/14/2004 11:18:07 PM PDT by scripter
Homosexual activists are fuming over President Bush's refusal to declare June "Gay Pride Month."
Nevertheless, without official support, several groups of federal workers are still planning activities.
Leonard Hirsch, president of Federal GLOBE the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Federal Employees organization told the Washington Blade, a homosexual weekly, that events are scheduled at the departments of Transportation, State, Interior and the USDA, while other agencies have said they will not sanction events without White House approval.
"We have continued to be boxed in a Catch-22 because agencies are saying that they can't provide support or statements unless the White House puts forth a proclamation," he said. "And of course the White House has not."
During the Clinton administration, the annual day was supported with taxpayer dollars and government facilities.
Allison Nichol, president of the Department of Justice Gay Pride group, said she is "not at all confident" that her request for the department to sponsor a Pride event would be approved. Nichol said that last year, the FBI scheduled a Pride event but Attorney General John Ashcroft canceled it.
"Given what's happened in the last two years, one can hope that the attorney general recognizes that it is his job to represent the equal rights of all citizens," Hirsch said. "I was sanguine that they would make a different determination this year, and I look forward to being surprised."
Last year, Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., who strongly criticized Ashcroft and the Department of Justice's decision not to allow its employees to celebrate Gay Pride Month, scheduled an alternative celebration for federal employees at the Capitol.
Nichol said she was in discussion with officials to provide an alternative setting for her events and hinted that her group is considering legal action against the Justice Department.
Prior to 2003, taxpayers paid for overhead expenses, including use of the Great Hall, set-up and breakdown of microphones and added security costs because the event is held after hours.
Ping. little jeremiah is gone for a couple of days.
They can have their month right after we celebrate WASP-Straight Male pride month.
ping--the slide continues
This story makes you want to keep your back to the wall just reading it!
oops, I pinged him--didn't know he was taking R&R.
"Or is that some kind of bigotry?"
THEY are the bigots. No representation of farmyard animals.
Oh well. He can survive a couple of extra pings. :-)
Isn't this moil month instead?
I want a Baredog pride month, think I'll get it? LOL!
Since 98% of the population is Heterosexual, why don't we petition for Heterosexual Pride month?
And yet oh so brave Joe Farah claims that Bush is no better than Kerry, and plans to sit out the election.
Ummm why was our tax dollars going to support this??
July will be "Pedophilia Pride" month ...
Let's keep the government out of our bedrooms!
Ummm why was our tax dollars going to support this??
'Cause Hillary and Ole Janet wanted it, that's why. Can you imagine a Hillary Clinton presidency? Unspeakable.
When is spodefly pride month? You suckers (no pun intended) can pay for that too.
Let's keep queers out of mine and my kid's lives and my taxdollars while we're at it.
Well John McCain said we should make cut backs in time of war
This looks like a good start to me
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