US Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff reacts while First Lady Dr. Jill Biden speaks during an event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, June 15, 2022. President Biden signed an executive order on advancing equality for LGBTQI+ individuals during the event. Photographer: Ting Shen/Pool/Sipa USA
The President and The First Lady host a reception and deliver remarks celebrating Pride Month
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is inviting thousands of guests to the White House to celebrate as he signs into law gay marriage legislation. The bill enshrines protections for same-sex unions in federal law.
The signing will take place Tuesday before a crowd of thousands on the South Lawn of the White House.
The legislation was passed by bipartisan majorities in Congress last week. Lawmakers said they were motivated by the possibility that the U.S. Supreme Court could overturn gay marriage rights, much like conservative justices already did with nationwide abortion access.
Among the attendees will be the owner of Club Q, a gay nightclub in Colorado where five people were killed in a shooting last month, and two survivors of the attack. The suspect has been charged with hate crimes.
Plaintiffs from lawsuits that originally helped secure the nationwide right to gay marriage are also expected to be there, according to the White House.
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