Gay and lesbian parents and their children are getting ready to roll at the White House Monday… Easter eggs that is.
Protestors will be on hand too as President Obama and his family welcome thousands of children and their parents to the annual White House Easter Egg Roll.
Personally, I doubt the hoopla surrounding the Obama administration’s decision to allocate tickets for the upcoming Easter event to gay and lesbian parents will get much press coverage considering there’s an even bigger event taking place at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Easter Monday. Rumor has it that after months of anticipation, the Obama’s new Portuguese Water Dog named Bo will be making his worldwide debut after all the kids have rolled their eggs across the finish line.
This of course means that hundreds of gay and lesbian families will be among the first people in the world to meet the new first dog. Those families say they consider themselves fortunate that the new Democratic administration values them as equal to other families. Meanwhile, leaders of gay and lesbian groups say being included in the annual Easter tradition at the White House (the egg roll dates back to the 1800s) renews hope that they will have more support in their quest for equal rights in matters such as marriage and adoption than under the previous administration.
As for the White House, officials there say they want gay parents and their children to feel welcome at the national landmark because they are “an important part of the American family fabric.”
Gay and lesbian parents are undeniably honored to be part of this year’s event; however, this is not the first time they have been invited to participate in the White House Egg Roll. In 2006 the Bush administration hosted more than 100 gay parents in part to make the statement that they should be welcome. Though, that was the same year that some conservatives accused gays and lesbians of trying to “crash” the event and turn it into forum for ideological politicking.
Still, gay and lesbian parents, who plan to attend Monday’s event, say they are undeterred by what critics think about their presence.
“Under Bush, it felt a bit like we were crashing our own party, but this year it feels like we’re equally honored guests,” noted one gay parent. “It’s more celebratory.”
Overall, gay and straight families from 45 states and the District of Columbia will attend this year’s egg roll.
What do you make of the hoopla surrounding the inclusion of gay and lesbian parents and their children at this year’s White House Easter Egg Roll?
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