Out lesbian Karine Jean-Pierre will become new White House Press Secretary
Related: How strongly does President Biden support LGBTQ rights? We asked the man who knows best.During the 2020 presidential campaign, Jean-Pierre served as Kamala Harris’s chief of staff, making her the first Black person to serve as chief of staff to a vice-presidential candidate and one of the highest-ranking LGBTQ people in the Biden/Harris campaign.She currently serves as Deputy Press Secretary under Jen Psaki.
Jean-Pierre will replace Psaki, who had announced she would vacate the role after a year in the role for a job with MSNBC. Her last day will be May 13.Jean-Pierre led the White House’s participation in Spirit Day last year and said it was important to her because “I could only hope that young people who might be watching or see clips of this briefing will know that they are supported and represented in the highest levels of government today.”“Karine Jean-Pierre is a brilliant communicator and person of tremendous intelligence, humor and poise, skills that will serve her and our country well in her new role.
There are few jobs more visible or more important to our democracy than to share information with the White House press corps and answer their questions,” GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said after the news of the promotion surfaced.“To have an out queer person of color speak for the President of the United States says everything about Karine’s talent and heart, and recognizes that LGBTQ people can belong, contribute and succeed in every room.
Our whole community looks forward to seeing Karine deliver for our nation and represent every LGBTQ person with pride.”Psaki also praised Jean-Pierre on Twitter in a lengthy thread.“She is passionate.
