ABOVE: Karine Jean-Pierre. Photo by Michael Key.
Deputy White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on April 10 criticized Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” law and the dozens of anti-LGBTQ bills that are currently before lawmakers across the country.
“I am a proud gay Black immigrant,” said Jean-Pierre during her speech at the LGBTQ Victory Fund’s National Champagne Brunch that took place at the Grand Hyatt in downtown D.C. “Basically, I am Ted Cruz and Ron DeSantis’ worst nightmare.”
Jean-Pierre noted Robert Thollander, a teacher from Orlando, Fla., who said parents targeted him after he acknowledged his husband, when she criticized his state’s “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” law that Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed on March 28.
A federal lawsuit has been filed against the law, but Jean-Pierre said the “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” bill has become the template for similar measures that have been filed in states across the country.
“Anti-LGBTQ politicians are trying to legislate us out of existence,” said Jean-Pierre.
Florida state Sen. Shevrin Jones, who is the Sunshine State’s first openly gay state senator, also spoke at the event alongside Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, Delaware state Sen. Sarah McBride and Arizona state Rep. Daniel Hernández. Virginia state Del. Danica Roem, Maryland state Reps. Gabriel Acevero and Luke Clippinger, Maryland congressional candidate Heather Mizeur, Fairfax County (Va.) School Board member Karl Frisch and Pennsylvania state Rep. Brian Sims are among those who attended the brunch.
