aTypical Joe: a gay New Yorker living in the rural South
Monday, April 10, 2006
Gays at the WH Easter Egg Roll
It had to happen: Washington’s culture wars have now reached the Easter Bunny.
Next Monday, some 200 gay families are planning to attend the annual White House Easter Egg Roll to showcase themselves to the nation and President George W. Bush. But some religious conservatives say the families are “crashing” the public event and exploiting children for political ends. [...]
The current hostess of the egg roll, Laura Bush, has adopted a neutral position.
“All families are welcome to attend the Easter Egg Roll, provided they comply with the rules,” Susan Whitson, Laura Bush’s press secretary, said Friday. “No more than two adults per group, and at least one child under the age of 8.”
Whitson would not answer questions about how the first lady felt personally about the attendance of the large group of gay families, who say they will wear rainbow leis to distinguish themselves. But in the past the first lady has readily responded to queries about whether she and the president have gay friends.
“Sure, of course, everyone does,” she said in an interview in 2004.
