Federal Government Resources Used to Promote LGBT Pride

June is behind us, but it is not too late to look back on what official resources federal agencies have used to celebrate LGBT Pride Month. Just how much time and money have been allocated is not clear, and this is just a sampling of agencies across the expansive federal bureaucracy.

Some things have changed since President Donald Trump was elected, replacing Barack Obama who said LGBT rights was an essential part of his foreign policy strategy.

When Obama declared the end of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” in 2011 the Pentagon held Pride Month events each following year and the practice continued into the first year of the Trump administration.

But no Pride Month event was held at the Pentagon this year and Trump, unlike his predecessor, has not issued a Pride Month proclamation on June 1 since taking office, according to the Washington Blade.

Breitbart News tracked down some of LGBT Pride Month events across federal agencies, including National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Veterans Administration (VA), Library of Congress (LOC) and, the National Park Service (NPS):

— The VA decided the best way to make sure veterans in the LGBT community feel comfortable seeking medical care was to put on a drag show, which traditionally is a parade of men dressing in women’s clothing and make-up.

National Public Radio (NPR) reported the VA was taking a “particularly fabulous approach” for its Pride Month event, organized by the White River Junction VA Medical Center in Vermont.

“Welcome to the gayest show on Earth,” the MC said to open the show in NPR’s report.

“But first, I just have to say the VA is here for its queers, and we are proud to serve all veterans,” the MC said.

— The CIA celebration was extensive and overseen in Washington, DC, by its new director, Gina Haspel, according to its website:

During our keynote event held at CIA Headquarters the first week of June, Director Haspel introduced Major General (MG) Tammy Smith, the highest ranking and first openly gay general in US history. Director Haspel described MG Smith, saying, “She refused to give in to discrimination, stayed riveted on her goals, and proceeded to blaze a trail that will go down in the history books. Today, Major General Smith is widely recognized as a pioneer in helping LGBT men and women to fully contribute—and fully belong—to the Army family.”

This event is one of several CIA activities celebrating Pride Month, including participation in the Capital DC Pride Festival and the 7th annual IC Pride Summit, of which CIA was a founder.

— The LOC said its collection of works by and about the LGBT community makes it a year-round celebration but in June the library featured discussions with authors who wrote books about homosexual romance.

“The library’s month-long celebration demonstrates how lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans have strengthened our country, by using their talent and creativity to help create awareness and goodwill,” the LOC website states…. read more at https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/07/01/federal-government-resources-used-promote-lgbt-pride/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+breitbart+%28Breitbart+News%29