Did you know that today is Bisexual Visibility Day? The inhabitants of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue are not only aware but have big plans for the day. The president will be hosting a roundtable discussion “about issues facing the bisexual community.” Bisexual activists from around the nation are expected to attend.
Seriously, this is not a joke.
This first-time White House celebration was called to my attention on Sunday when I saw a piece in the Miami Herald with the headline “A voice for bisexuals, Miami activist heads to D.C.”
The article highlights Luigi Ferrer, who is program and grants development director for Pridelines Youth Services.
‘I am the Florida representative,’ said Ferrer, a longtime bisexual activist who joins about two-dozen others at the roundtable, which coincides with international Bisexual Visibility Day on Sept. 23.
‘They decided to celebrate bisexuality day by inviting the national bisexual leadership roundtable to the White House for a policy meeting,’ said Ferrer, who received an email invitation about a month ago from the Barack Obama administration.
‘It’s a testament to this administration that they are focusing on all elements of the LGBT community and they should be applauded for hosting an event focused on some of the specific issues impacting bisexual people,’ said Michael Cole-Schwartz, spokesman for HRC, Human Rights Campaign in Washington.
The two things I find most intriguing about this event is, first, that the roundtable discussion is described as “closed-door.” Wouldn’t you expect the most transparent administration ever to want to open up an important forum like this to as many viewpoints as possible? Second, with all that is going on in our nation and the world, it is remarkable that the president has the time and resources for such an event.
The fact that it is taking place in the “People’s House” is another point of curiosity. Isn’t the White House still off-limits to tour groups because of sequestration? And since we’re on the subject of budget, what is this roundtable costing the American taxpayer? I’m not necessarily objecting, but inquiring minds want to know. After all, just yesterday, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi declared:
The cupboard is bare. There’s no more cuts to make. It’s really important that people understand that.
In light of that dire pronouncement, wouldn’t it be reasonable to expect that maybe the administration could wait for next year’s Bisexual Visibility Day to hold this important conference?
