In what Buzzfeed calls a “symbolic rebuke” of Attorney General Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III’s move to rescind Obama-era pro-trans guidance, Justice Department employees are planning to honor Gavin Grimm, the trans student fighting his high school’s anti-trans bathroom policy, at an LGBT Pride event next week. That joyous Pride party noise is coming from inside the house, Jeff:
A notice about the program, obtained by BuzzFeed News, went out to employees on Tuesday. At the event, which was attended by former attorney general Loretta Lynch in 2016, the relevant work of the department is highlighted, a keynote speech is given, and awards are presented.
This year, DOJ Pride — the department's group for LGBT employees and their allies — plans to present Gavin Grimm with its Gerald B. Roemer Community Service Award at the event, BuzzFeed News has learned.
DOJ Pride is “a recognized employee association for LGBT people and allies” at the department, and group members select a new award recipient every year. During the first couple months of a profoundly anti-LGBT administration—including news that the White House declined to issue a Pride Month proclamation or even hold a Pride reception for the first time since the George W. Bush era—it’s hard to imagine this wasn’t intentional.
According to Buzzfeed, while it appears Grimm will attend the event, there’s no word if anyone from Sessions’ leadership will go. It’s worth remembering that when it comes to meeting face-to-face with the folks they love to constantly demonize, the Trump White House has been shown to choke.