Petrelis Files

Gay Families Needed for White House
Easter Egg Roll

It's that time of the year again when gay families participate in a great American tradition -- Easter candy hunting and egg rolls on White House lawn. Just like kids with straight parents who attend the festivities, the children from gay families will soon be visiting their dentists after eating so many sugary treats, but I digress from my main point, recruiting gay families for the event:

The Family Equality Council is excited to encourage you to be a part of a White House tradition by participating in the White House Easter Egg Roll on March 24, 2008. [...]

The day is full of activities, candy, and family fun. As many of you already know, in 2006 Family Equality Council participated proudly into this tradition with hundreds of LGBTQ parents and their children—while all wearing colorful leis around their necks. This event got incredible media coverage and gave America to see the beautiful reality of our families. [...]

With your help, on March 24th, LGBTQ-parented families will fill the White House Lawn, rolling eggs side by side with our fellow citizens.

So how can gay families get tickets for this fun-filled day? The Office of First Lady Laura Bush provides the answer:

The National Park Service will distribute free tickets on two dates for entry to the South Lawn. The majority of tickets will be available beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 22, and a small allotment of tickets will be available beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, March 24. The tickets, which are timed for entrance, will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis at the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion (southwest corner of 15th and E Streets). A maximum of five tickets will be issued per person. Children of all ages are welcome to attend, as long as there is at least one child seven years old or under and no more than two adults per group. Tickets are required for every attendee, including small children, to enter the White House South Lawn. No tickets are necessary for access to the events on the Ellipse.

For the most up-to-date information on the Easter Egg Roll and other public events at the White House, please call the Visitors Office 24-hour information line at (202) 456-7041.

No word from the White House on whether lesbian moms Mary Cheney and Heather Poe will be bringing their 10-month-old son Samuel David Cheney to the Easter egg roll. It would be a step forward for all LGBT families if the Cheney/Poe family were part of the egg roll.

The director of the visitor's office, Amy Allman, will be hosting an online "Ask the White House" session tomorrow. I've submitted an advance question to her and hope you'll do the same. Click here to submit a question.

Let's use this opportunity to promote the very worthy cause of full and equal treatment in American life for gay families.