ABOVE: Screenshot via The Washington Blade.
Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm joined LGBTQ employees outside the Department of Energy on Tuesday in raise the Progress Pride Flag in recognition of Pride Month.
Granholm, in remarks before the flag raising, said “it’s a thrill to be part of this symbol of raising this flag,” which was done at the Department of Energy for the first-time ever.
“Flags are symbols, right?” Granholm said. “Flags are statements about who we are and what we are saying is that this department welcomes, embraces all communities that have been marginalized. This is home here for you.”
Introducing Granholm at the event was her chief of staff, Tarak Shah who’s gay and served during the Obama years as chief of staff for the Department of Energy’s under secretary science and energy. Shah also helped with the physical raising of the flag on the pole outside of the department.
Staffers during the event said the flag-raising would now be an inaugural event at the Department of Energy in recognition of Pride Month.
Granholm during her remarks echoed comments President Biden made in his speech to Congress in April when he told transgender youth “the president has your back” amid a wave of anti-transgender legislation advancing in state legislatures.
“I’m so pleased that we are part of an administration that also has your back,” Granholm said. “One of the first executive orders that the president signed was an executive order upholding, making sure that this administration embraced diversity and inclusion and civil rights. And that’s who we are here.”
