It's true. About 200 Gay and Lesbian parents brought some 100 children to the White House Easter Egg Roll, and the sky didn't fall. What next? A lesbian president? Oh my!
WASHINGTON -- Thousands of children, including some brought by gay and lesbian parents, braved chilly rain at the South Lawn of the White House Monday to roll colored eggs across soggy grass as part of an event dating to the 19th century.
About 16,000 tickets were distributed for the day-long event, and about a hundred gay and lesbian parents lined up for the passes handed out on a first-come-first-served basis.
The gay and lesbian couples, who wore rainbow-colored leis, said they wanted to give their children an opportunity to have fun while making a political statement that they should be welcome.
"We just wanted to come out to be visible and present and to let people see we are families, too," said Alisa Surkis, 42, of Brooklyn, N.Y., as 3-year-old-daughter Ella clamored for her partner, Colleen Gillespie, to take her over to see the Easter Bunny.
A half-dozen protesters stood outside the South Lawn gates with large signs and a bullhorn. They yelled at all the families, telling the heterosexual parents that their children would be punished with colds for coming to an event that included gay men and lesbians. They also compared gay families to the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus, saying that all three are make-believe.
Photo credit: D.C.-based photographer Joe Tresh who was at the Egg Roll and has more cool photos. Via Pam's House Blend where there are more great photos.
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Easter Homophobia White House Gay Lesbian Family Pride Easter Egg Roll Bush Laura Bush