At White House, LGBTQ+ Leaders Share Coming Out Stories, Advice

Politicians, athletes, and activists got personal during the White House Pride ceremony last week.

Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.

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Neal Broverman

June 29 2021 6:00 PM EST

May 31 2023 4:47 PM EST

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In what is likely a first, the White House produced a Pride-themed video featuring prominent LGBTQ+ individuals sharing their coming out tales.

Biden administration officials produced the video last week during their Pride event at the White House, which attracted LGBTQ+ politicians like Senator Tammy Baldwin and Congressman Mondaire Jones; the event included the president signing legislation designating the Pulse site in Orlando a national memorial.

The Pride video, titled "A Pride Month Message," highlights up-and-coming out notables like Delaware state senator Sarah McBride, Long Beach, Calif., mayor Robert Garcia, Team USA Triathlete Chris Mosier, activist Ashton Mota, and Lt. Col. Bree Fram.

The testimonials described the fear and anxiety of coming out -- and the jubilation of living authentically that eventually followed.

Virginia legislator Danica Roem put it simply: "If someone is going to love you, they need to love who you are, not who you think they want you to be."

Watch the video below: