CHARLOTTE, N.C. — North Carolina-based newspaper The News & Observer has reported that the White House Office of Political Affairs proactively contacted conservative LGBTQ organization Deplorable Pride, which was previously banned from participating in Charlotte’s LGBTQ Pride parade. The group is led by Brian Talbert, who has used or promoted inflammatory language against Muslims, women, and even the LGBTQ community itself.
Talbert described the call as a show of support, said the report. But he said the conversation concluded with questions about Charlotte Pride’s refusal to allow his group’s tongue-in-cheek float in the city’s pride parade this summer.
The 27-foot-long float would have included a female impersonator dressed as first lady Melania Trump, surrounded by a handful of other female impersonators wearing blue-sequined “Make America Great Again” evening gowns.
“I was told to expect a call from the White House, but I still just about fell over when I got it,” said Talbert. “They asked me to email them everything I could on what happened (with the parade). I was told: ‘The president is going to want to see this.’ ”
GLAAD, voicing concern over the report said, “The White House has chosen to stay silent and has refused to recognize LGBTQ Pride Month. By instead contacting Deplorable Pride, the Office of Political Affairs has further shown how completely tone deaf this administration is to the inclusive umbrella of the LGBTQ community.
“Further, President Trump’s silence highlights his administration’s agenda of systematically erasing LGBTQ Americans from the fabric of this nation. Whether it’s filling his administration with long-time anti-LGBTQ activists or erasing LGBTQ Americans from government websites, federal surveys, and even the upcoming 2020 U.S. Census, the Trump administration has proven itself to be anything but an ally to the LGBTQ community.”
In a statement from its board, Charlotte Pride said, “In the past, we have made similar decisions to decline participation from other organizations espousing anti-LGBTQ religious or public policy stances. Charlotte Pride envisions a world in which LGBTQ people are affirmed, respected, and included in the full social and civic life of their local communities, free from fear of any discrimination, rejection, and prejudice.”
