In 1954, African American parents were allowed to participate in the annual White House Easter Egg Roll. That little step toward sanity was brought to us by Mamie Eisenhower. This year, word comes from the office of Laura Bush that gay and lesbian, or all families, are welcome to participate.
Like I keep saying, the wrong gender is in charge of the country.
Of course, the rightwing crazies are so opposed to any sign of gayness that they are breaking out in homophobic rashes.
But looking at the 2004 White House Easter Bunny helper pictured here, you really have to wonder:
What exactly does a hetero Easter look like?
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Hundreds of gay and lesbian parents hoping to take their families to the annual White House Easter Egg Roll plan to start lining up Friday evening to make sure they get tickets for the Monday event.
Thousands of tickets -- an estimated 16,000 last year -- are given away on a first-come-first-served basis beginning at 7:30 a.m. Saturday. National Park Service officials said Wednesday that children of all ages may attend as long as there is at least one child 7 years old or younger, and no more than two adults per group.
First lady Laura Bush's office issued a statement saying all families are welcome to attend.
"I don't think this is a protest," said Jennifer Chrisler, executive director of the Family Pride Coalition. "Showing up, participating fully in an American tradition, showing Americans that we do exist, that in our minds isn't a protest."
Some say the gay and lesbian parents are playing politics.
"I think it's inappropriate to use a children's event to make a political statement," said Mark D. Tooley of the Institute on Religion and Democracy. The gay and lesbian parents say they won't carry signs or chant slogans, but will wear rainbow-colored leis as a unifying symbol.
"The message is that gay and lesbian families are everywhere in this country," said Chrisler. "We care about the same things that all parents care about: providing our children with every opportunity and every experience possible."
The president sometimes makes a brief appearance, and the first lady often reads a story. The White House has not announced plans for this year.
Easter White House Gay Lesbian Family Pride Easter Egg Roll
Bush Laura Bush
