Post-Pride odds and ends

As New Yorkers prepare to leave the city en masse for the Independence Day holiday, this blogger recounts a series of events that have dominated the headlines (and his schedule) over the last few days. These include the sudden death of Michael Jackson--and continued onslaught of media coverage surrounding it, the first nice weekend on Fire Island in weeks and a press conference outside the Stonewall Inn yesterday where Congressman Jerrold Nadler and others called for the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression into the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964.

In addition, hundreds of LGBT activists attended a reception at the White House last night hosted by the president and the First Lady. The administration has certainly received a great deal of warranted criticism over the last few weeks for its refusal to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell and its unconscionable defense of the Defense of Marriage Act. That said, the mere fact the White House hosted hundreds of LGBT activists sends a powerful message the administration may actually take our community seriously. Let's hope so!