WASHINGTON, June 8 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden will host the largest White House Pride Month celebration in history on Thursday, in a deliberate contrast to a cascade of Republican legislation and other attacks targeting LGBTQ+ people.
Biden, a Democrat, will host thousands of people on the White House's South Lawn for an evening celebration of LGBTQ+ families that will feature singer Betty Who and Baltimore DJ Queen HD.
"This year we're seeing a disturbing surge in violent threats against LGBTQ community organizations," Tanden told reporters on a conference call.
In April, the White House warned bills targeting LGBTQ kids and gender-affirming care for youth set a dangerous precedent.
Florida has led restrictions of the LGBTQ community under governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, who recently entered the battle for the 2024 presidential election, challenging Biden.
Persons:
Joe Biden, Biden, Betty Who, Neera Tanden, Tanden, Barack Obama, Ron DeSantis, Nandita Bose, Jeff Mason, Trevor Hunnicutt, Heather Timmons, Gerry Doyle
Organizations:
White, Democrat, Baltimore DJ Queen, Republican, Gallup, Department of Education, Civil, The Department of Homeland Security, Department, Justice, Department of Health & Human Services, Human Rights, Thomson
Locations:
United States, statehouses, Florida, Washington