How Appealing picked up the story as well, and linked to Blue Blanket, which appears to be written by a DOJ lawyer named Stephanie.  Most interestingly, she reprints a memo from the DOJ Pride Board of Directors with their opposition to the cancellation.  The memo reads in part:

We were told that the decision was made by the Attorney General’s Office in accordance with a new Department "policy" that allegedly prohibits heritage or pride month commemorations unless they are supported by a Presidential Proclamation. . . .We had never heard of this so-called "policy" prior to this week, and we were told that it has never been committed to writing. We have asked for a written explanation of the Department’s decision to prevent us from holding a Pride Month celebration, as well as the opportunity to meet with a representative of the Attorney General’s Office to register our objections to that decision. Thus far, we have not received a response to either of these requests.

[Emphasis added.]

I am disturbed by the realization that I am not shocked that the "policy" has never been committed to writing.  Having this little faith in or respect for one's own governmental agencies is part and parcel of the small L philosophy, but the irony that the Department of Justice is behaving this way is just too much.

Ignoring the question of whether or not any "[insert group] Pride Event" should be officially sanctioned by a government agency (an important question, but not one I'm addressing here), this really irks me (I'd prefer an expletive here, really, but I'll refrain).  (Link from New York Times: Politics.)

In a nutshell?  The Justice Department apparently allows ethic and racial groups to hold annual events at the DOJ headquarters.  However, the Department has apparently prohibited this year's annual Gay Pride Event, because--get this--"the White House had not formally recognized Gay Pride Month with a presidential proclamation."  Last year--when, by the way, the White House also had not made a proclamation--Deputy Attorney General Larry Thompson spoke at the event, accordingly to the article.  Apparently, this drew the ire of a few really close-minded people with influence.

Public Advocate, a nonprofit group that describes itself as pro-family, has continued lobbying the Justice Department and other federal agencies in recent months to abandon the gay pride events because it says the events are an inappropriate use of federal resources, said Jesse Binnall, a group spokesman.

Told of the decision to cancel this year's Justice Department event, Mr. Binnall said today, "We're absolutely thrilled that the Justice Department has made such a bold decision to stand up for American families instead of giving in to special interest groups."

[emphasis mine.]

I don't even know where to begin.  First, Mr. Binnall, make up your mind.  Either you want to cancel the event because it's an inappropriate use of resources, or because failing to do so doesn't "stand up for American families."  Actually, never mind.  I am confident I know what you think.

Second, how in any way, shape, or form can canceling the event constitute "stand[ing] up for American families"?  I'm just hopping, hopping mad about that statement.  (Again, I need to add my disclaimer here that I'm not sure ANY event like this should be sponsored by a government agency.)  How does canceling a parade "stand up for American families"?  How does allowing members of other groups to celebrate the things they find important about themselves, but not members of This One Particular Group, "stand up for American families"?  It's just so un-American I want to spit.

Third.  Mr. Ashcroft, please just go.  I do not for one minute believe your Department canceled this event based on a Presidential non-Proclamation.  You canceled it because you are a [ed. note: I'm self-censoring my expletives here.  Use your imagination.]

I said once before that Ashcroft is a much bigger threat to American liberty than the President.  I know that there are many more significant justifications for this belief this week, but for whatever reason, this cancellation just made me MAD.