Since 1999 Clinton has endorced the gay pride month but the white house will not continue in that tradition.

quote:

Barbara Dozetos
Pride celebrations around the country will have to proceed without acknowledgment from the White House this year.

President George W. Bush will not proclaim this June to be Gay Pride Month, breaking the custom established in 1999 by predecessor President Bill Clinton. White House spokesman Scott McClellan said that while Bush feels all people should be treated with "dignity and respect," he "does not believe in politicizing people's sexual orientation."

"[Bush's] refusal to reach out to our community calls into question his promise to be president of all the people," David Smith, a spokesman for the Human Rights Campaign (a GLBT rights organization), told the Associated Press. Smith said that since he took office in January, Bush has reached out to other constituencies by signing proclamations for Black History Month, Women's History Month and Irish-American Heritage Month.

The new president's office will also take a pass on sponsoring any activities or observances marking the month, according to a memo e-mailed to administration managers last week.

"The executive office of the president will not sponsor an observance for Gay and Lesbian Pride Month," read the memo. "The executive office of the president will continue to observe, in some form or manner, the special emphasis programs that are traditionally recognized through the Affirmative Employment Program. Those programs recognize minorities and women that have been traditionally underrepresented in the work force."

In addition to issuing the presidential proclamations that designated Gay Pride Month in 1999 and 2000, the Clinton administration sponsored observances such as related speakers' forums.

According to an AP report, some other executive branch offices, including the Transportation and Interior Departments, are still planning their own observances for Gay Pride Month

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