GLAAD Responds to Historic Appointment of Karine Jean-Pierre as White House Press Secretary, the First Black Woman and First Out LGBTQ Person to Serve in the Role

GLAAD: "Karine Jean-Pierre is a brilliant communicator and person of tremendous intelligence, humor and poise, skills that will serve her and our country well in her new role. There are few jobs more visible or more important to our democracy than to share information with the White House press corps and answer their questions. To have an out queer person of color speak for the President of the United States says everything about Karine's talent and heart, and recognizes that LGBTQ people can belong, contribute and succeed in every room. Our whole community looks forward to seeing Karine deliver for our nation and represent every LGBTQ person with pride."

(Thursday, May 5, 2022) GLAAD, the world's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, is responding to the announcement that Karine Jean-Pierre will become White House Press Secretary, the first Black woman and first out LGBTQ person to serve in the role. Jean-Pierre previously served as Deputy Press Secretary for the Biden White House.

As Deputy Press Secretary, Jean-Pierre was the first out LGBTQ woman, and second Black woman, to lead a White House briefing in May 2021. In October 2021, Jean-Pierre led the White House in participating in GLAAD's Spirit Day, and spoke during the White House press briefing about Spirit Day's power of visibility for LGBTQ youth: "I could only hope that young people who might be watching or see clips of this briefing will know that they are supported and represented in the highest levels of government today." Video here.

Last month, Jean-Pierre spoke out against anti-LGBTQ legislation in states across the country. Earlier this year she denounced memos from Texas Governor Abbott and Attorney General Paxton falsely and harmfully targeting families of transgender youth: "No parent should face the agony of a politician standing in the way of accessing life-saving care for their child."

Jean-Pierre has an accomplished background as a communications leader, from work in the Obama White House to presidential campaigns and local politics. She has also served as Chief Public Affairs Officer for MoveOn.org and as an NBC and MSNBC Political Analyst. Jean-Pierre authored the political memoir Moving Forward: A Story of Hope, Hard Work, and the Promise of America.

GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis responded on Twitter, and here:

"Karine Jean-Pierre is a brilliant communicator and person of tremendous intelligence, humor and poise, skills that will serve her and our country well in her new role. There are few jobs more visible or more important to our democracy than to share information with the White House press corps and answer their questions. To have an out queer person of color speak for the President of the United States says everything about Karine's talent and heart, and recognizes that LGBTQ people can belong, contribute and succeed in every room. Our whole community looks forward to seeing Karine deliver for our nation and represent every LGBTQ person with pride."

GLAAD has monitored the Biden administration's appointments, policy announcements and statements important to LGBTQ Americans in our Biden Accountability Tracker, which can be read here. Jean-Pierre's appointment marks the 140th entry in 470 days since President Biden and Vice President Harris took office.

Highlights from GLAAD's Biden Accountability Tracker include:

• Nominations including the first-ever out Cabinet member confirmed by the Senate, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg; first out transgender person confirmed as Assistant Secretary for Health and first female four-star admiral of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, Dr. Rachel Levine; highest-ranking out transgender person to serve in the Defense Department, Shawn Skelly; first out lesbian and first woman of color to serve as Under Secretary of a military branch, Gina Ortiz Jones; first out commissioner of the largest federal law enforcement agency, Customs and Border Protection, Chris Magnus.

• The first out lesbians nominated and confirmed to the federal bench, Alison Nathan, Beth Robinson and Charlotte Sweeney, among 83 first-year nominations. 80% of those confirmed so far are women, with 53% being people of color.

• Centering LGBTQ equality in global diplomacy, with President Biden stating: "We believe LGBTQ+ rights are human rights," to end violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity around the world through diplomacy and foreign assistance.

• First U.S. passport issued with a gender-neutral 'X' marker, an option now available to all routine passport applicants.

• Reinstated of transgender military personnel; first policies to include full transition benefits to trans military veterans; benefits eligibility offered to LGBTQ veterans forced from service under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

• Reinstated of protections and expansion of coverage for transgender people seeking healthcare and housing.

• Departments of Justice and Education filed statement of interest to protect transgender students from discrimination; department leaders issued public statements and videos to defend students and teachers and encourage them to report acts of bias.

• Created strategy to end HIV by 2030, to include prioritizing reforms to outdated laws criminalizing HIV status and $267 million funding increase to improve access to treatment, use of PrEP to prevent HIV and ensure access to services free from stigma and discrimination

• Invited out transgender teen and GLAAD 20 Under 20 honoree Ashton Mota to speak and introduce President Biden at the White House Pride reception; both President Biden and Vice President Harris tweeted support for LGBTQ Americans on Pride as well as on Transgender Day of Remembrance, Transgender Day of Visibility, and in both presidential addresses to Congress including the State of the Union.

About GLAAD: GLAAD rewrites the script for LGBTQ acceptance. As a dynamic media force, GLAAD tackles tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change. GLAAD protects all that has been accomplished and creates a world where everyone can live the life they love. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org or connect with GLAAD on Facebook and Twitter.