This week, Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff hosted a
reception in partnership with GLAAD to celebrate LGBTQ Pride Month. Hosted by RuPaul’s Drag Race season 15 winner Sasha Colby, the event served as a call for leaders in the community to unite in the fight for LGBTQ acceptance and equality.
In addition to VP Harris, speakers included Emhoff, as well as GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. The program also featured a performance from Tony award-winning actor Alex Newell from Shucked. Newell wowed the attendees with a rendition of “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.” In addition, Sam Charney, a young LGBTQ advocate from Colorado who wrote to VP Harris about gun violence prevention, introduced the Vice President at the event.
VP Harris, who recently made a surprise visit to the Stonewall Inn in New York City, talked about the importance of celebrating the achievements of LGBTQ Americans, the importance of building coalitions to combat the unprecedented attacks taking place against the community across the country, how the fight for equality is patriotic, and reaffirmed the Biden-Harris Administration’s support for LGBTQ people and families.
“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,” VP Harris said. “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.”
Other guests attending the event include Karine Jean-Pierre, Dr. Amy Levine, Tyler Cherry, Club Q founding owner, Matthew Haynes, Pulse shooting survivor and Equality Florida Press Sec. Brandon J. Wolf, Ariana Debose, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Bobby Berk, Dove Cameron, Frankie Grande, along with LGBTQ Americans from more than 30 states and territories.
The event included appearances from a multitude of queer groups, people in the queer community as well as allies. This includes D.C.’s Different Drummers, an LGBTQ music organization, and performance by Cheer DC, a volunteer-based cheerleading group focused on elevating acceptance and equality. Also attending were leaders from the Human Rights Campaign, PFLAG, LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, The Trevor Project, Family Equality, Equality Florida, Equality Texas, and the Transgender Education Network of Texas among others. Guests had the opportunity to take home a copy of the July/August edition of The Advocate, which features VP Harris on the cover.