The White House Pride Month celebration, set to be the largest ever, has been postponed from Thursday evening until Saturday due to smoke from wildfires in Canada.
The White House announced the postponement Thursday afternoon.
The federal government’s air quality monitoring website reported that Washington’s air quality was “very unhealthy.” Residents were encouraged to remain indoors or wear masks.
The Washington Nationals postponed a home baseball game as well.
The event was scheduled to be the “largest Pride celebration in White House history, with LGBTQ families from across the country demonstrating that LGBTQ people belong in the people’s house,” Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden told reporters previously.
Event organizers say the celebration stands in contrast to Republican legislation and other attacks targeting LGBTQ+ individuals.
The White House event was set to feature an appearance by Betty Who, which was expected to draw thousands of people.
Canada’s wildfire season has started with an unusually intense start thanks to a lightning-caused fire in Quebec.
As a result of the fires, much smoke has reached the United States, contaminating air along the East Coast and the Midwest.
Biden was expected to discuss the announcement of several initiatives across the federal government aimed at protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ people in the wake of GOP-led attacks on the rights of queer and trans people.
