Civil Rights Groups Claim Victory as Justice Department Backtracks on LGBT Pride Decision

June 11, 2003

by Leonard Tengco, Communications Intern

NOW and other civil rights groups claimed victory Tuesday upon hearing news that the Justice Department was backtracking from its decision last week to ban DOJ Pride, a group of lesbian and gay employees, from holding an annual awards ceremony at its headquarters.

Attributing the controversy to a "misunderstanding," a Justice Department representative stated on Tuesday that it would not sponsor or subsidize the event, as it did last year, but that it would not ban group members from holding the event on department premises.

Members of DOJ Pride said that department officials specifically told them last week that they would have to cancel a planned June 16 event at the Justice Department's Great Hall because the Bush administration had not formally recognized Gay Pride Month in a presidential proclamation.

Feminist leaders said they welcomed news of the reversal. "There is absolutely no room for discrimination at the federal agency charged with upholding the laws of the Constitution," said NOW President Kim Gandy.

For more information:
Feminists Protest Justice Department's Ban on Lesbian and Gay Pride Events