Apparently in response to my earlier posts (heheh not really, of course) the DOJ has sort-of reversed its position and will now allow DOJ Pride to hold their annual event on Department premises. Per Department Spokesman Mark Corallo,
the department had told DOJ Pride, a group that supports its gay employees, that Justice could not sponsor any events without a presidential proclamation. The Bush administration has declined to issue a statement honoring Gay Pride Month.
But, Corallo said, the department told the group it could still hold its event; it just wouldn't be sponsored by Justice. DOJ Pride had planned a ceremony next week in the Justice Department's main auditorium to honor two lawyers who have defended gay rights.
"They were told -- very clearly -- that, like any properly constituted employees association, they could request the space, it would be granted and they could have their event," he said. "It just would not be officially sponsored."
[Emphasis added. From the Washington Post (BEWARE--annoying, sound-playing pop-up ad).]
Additional coverage in the New York Times. As of this writing, DOJ Pride has not yet updated its website.
Who knows what really happened. Now, though, I want to see (a) the written DOJ policy stating that no official sponsorship of employee celebrations can be granted without a presidential proclamation and (b) something, somewhere, about what happens when a celebration is in fact sponsored by the Department. What sort of rewards are part of being officially sponsored?
