White House Tasks Pentagon for its LGBT Pride Reception
by David Small
The White House is scheduled to host its first LGBT Pride month reception tonight, June 15, that includes openly gay service members who were invited through official Pentagon channels and organizations such as OutServe.
The White House reception comes concurrently with Associated Press reports that the Pentagon will organize its first-ever event to celebrate LGBT Pride month after Defense Secretary Leon Panetta expressed interest in recognizing gay and lesbian troops.
Air Force Master Sgt. Philip Skopp was selected to attend the event via a nomination from the Air Force after the White House tasked the services to provide names for the event.
“I have been serving or affiliated with the Air Force for 19 years, 18 of which I served under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” so this is a big deal for me,” said Skopp who works on the Joint Staff.
White House organizers did not specify that those put forward for the opportunity be gay, however OutServe Magazine learned that at least the Air Force and Navy submissions from the Pentagon included LGBT service members.
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