Since Trump won't let LGBTQ and Black reporters come to his holiday party, the Task Force will throw a party of its own

(Washington, DC, December 11, 2017) In response to the White House snubbing LGBTQ and Black reporters, the National LGBTQ Task Force is hosting its own holiday party for the press, titled Not The White House Holiday Party.

The White House invited new criticism from the press and LGBTQ advocates after Politico reported that The Washington Blade's Chris Johnson and American Urban Radio Network's April Ryan - who also is a contributor for CNN - were not invited to the White House's media holiday party. Rea Carey, the executive director of the National LGBTQ Task Force, stated, "President Donald Trump's actions to shun LGBTQ and Black reporters is an insulting action to people of color and the LGBTQ community." Carey added that, "It is fundamental to our democracy to have a free and diverse press. Trump's holiday party actions are the latest in his offenses to all marginalized communities." 

On December 10, Snopes reported that they had asked the White House for a list of attendees to verify how many people of color and LGBTQ indivuals from the White House press corps had been denied an invitation, but the administration ignored the request.

Instead of ending the Task Force's interest in the matter at just a statement of condemnation, the Task Force is taking it one step further by opening its office doors and hosting a party of its own, called Not The White House Holiday Party for members of the press on Tuesday, December 19, from 6 - 8 pm. Members of the press that attend will be treated to a holiday soirée with refreshments including beer and wine, and sweets.

Alex Morash, the Task Force's new media and public relations  director, will also be on hand at Not The White House Holiday Party to introduce himself and the Task Force to journalists. The reason to have the party Morash stated was simple, "All of us at the National LGBTQ Task Force thought it was terrible how Trump has treated members of the media, and we wanted to do something to give back to reporters for all the hard work they do."  

Press interested in attending should contact Morash to RSVP by Friday December 15 at amorash@thetaskforce.org.  

The National LGBTQ Task Force is the oldest national LGBTQ advocacy group in the country that works to achieve equality and equity for all and move society to value and respect the diversity of human expression and identity. Also the Task Force organizes Creating Change, the foremost political, leadership, and skills-building conference for the LGBTQ social justice movement with over 3,500 attendees. For its 30th Anniversary, Creating Change will be held in Washington, DC January 24-28.

The National LGBTQ Task Force works to secure full freedom, justice, equality, and equity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people. For over forty years, we have been at the forefront of the social justice movement by training thousands of organizers and advocating for change at the federal, state, and local level. www.thetaskforce.org