First Openly Gay Man Chosen as the New White House Social Secretary
EmailABC News' Sunlen Miller Reports:
In a job typically filled by a woman, the White House has chosen the first-ever man to be the next White House Social Secretary.
Jeremy Bernard, who is openly gay, will be named Special Assistant to the President and Social Secretary.
“Jeremy shares our vision for the White House as the People’s House, one that celebrates our history and culture in dynamic and inclusive ways,” President Obama said in a statement, “We look forward to Jeremy continuing to showcase America’s arts and culture to our nation and the world through the many events at the White House.”
Bernard comes to the White House from the US Embassy in Paris, where he served as Senior Advisor to the Ambassador. Prior to this role, he worked as the White House Liaison to the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The job of social secretary is a unique one, in charge of planning official White House social events. The White House Social Office, located in the East Wing, works closely with the First Lady to coordinate the events – choosing themes, menus, guest list, décor and overall character of White House events. The high-profile State Dinners, taking months of planning, are often the highlight of the Social Secretary’s work on display.
“I look forward to working with Jeremy to continue the great work of the Social Office, from fun and educational student workshops to elegant State Dinners that welcome world leaders to the White House,” Tina Tchen, Chief of Staff to First Lady Michelle Obama said in a statement, “Jeremy’s creativity, perspective and skills will be a welcome addition to our East Wing team, as we showcase the White House and celebrating America’s arts and culture.”
This marks Mrs. Obama’s third social secretary of the Obama administration, following the departure of Desiree Rogers and Julianna Smoot.
-Sunlen Miller
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Here’s hoping he does a good job. The early gift giving, overly extravagant parties, and the State Dinner party crashers were hugely embarrassing.
Posted by: MayBee | February 25, 2011, 1:47 pm 1:47 pm
How is the sexual orientation of the Social Secretary relevant if he/she was qualified to perform the duties of the job? Of course, it isn’t.
Like the recent DOMA story, this is just another bone thrown at the gay lobby and glaring evidence, once again, that Democrats categorize people into neat little constituency groups instead of viewing them all as Americans.
Posted by: Mary | February 25, 2011, 3:00 pm 3:00 pm
This is what the American People get from a president who has no religion!
Posted by: ted | February 25, 2011, 3:25 pm 3:25 pm
“Like the recent DOMA story, this is just another bone thrown at the gay lobby and glaring evidence, once again, that Democrats categorize people into neat little constituency groups instead of viewing them all as Americans.”
Let me break this down for you:
Mary carps, “this is just another bone thrown at the gay lobby.” Mary asserts that this guy was only hired to satisfy the infamous “gay” lobby.
Mary then pivots to, “glaring evidence, once again, that Democrats categorize people into neat little constituency groups.” Here, after suggesting that this guy was hired as a token homosexual to placate the gays, Mary asserts that this PROVES that the DEMOCRATS are the ones who are politically divisive, who play politics with the lives of gay people.
Posted by: blip | February 25, 2011, 3:28 pm 3:28 pm
@Ted Religious people don’t throw parties?
Posted by: Maddog | February 25, 2011, 3:28 pm 3:28 pm
TED: “This is what the American People get from a president who has no religion!” – Yes, it’s called equality.
Posted by: jock59801 | February 25, 2011, 3:29 pm 3:29 pm
rut roh, the newcons really hate this one…pandering to those gay liberals…how dare he treat people equally, and hire them based on their skills. Who does that man think he is!!
Posted by: natFrankie | February 25, 2011, 3:33 pm 3:33 pm
Desiree was incompetent. Maybe her replacement will be better. That this guy is homosexual should be irrelevant – why is it part of the story?
Posted by: f | February 25, 2011, 3:36 pm 3:36 pm
Mary | Feb 25, 2011 3:00:43 PM posted: “this is just another bone thrown at the gay lobby and glaring evidence, once again, that Democrats categorize people into neat little constituency groups instead of viewing them all as Americans.”
I don’t view this as “glaring evidence”, but simply a White House announcement about who was selected as best for the job, without a big deal over his gender, skin color, or sexual orientation.
The White House press release begins by citing Mr. Bernard’s recent job Senior Advisor to the Ambassador in Paris. And that he previously worked as the White House Liaison to the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Posted by: green.goddess | February 25, 2011, 3:40 pm 3:40 pm
And we wonder why our leader’s are so confused….
Posted by: jrh512 | February 25, 2011, 3:45 pm 3:45 pm
“That this guy is homosexual should be irrelevant – why is it part of the story?”
Because it is noteworthy, particularly if you are gay, to know that at least some people in this country don’t hate you.
Posted by: blip | February 25, 2011, 3:48 pm 3:48 pm
What I love about headlines, is what they say by mistakes in phrasing. This headline implies that Jeremy Bernard was the first man to be openly gay, and that he now has a new job as White House Social Secretary. Would it have been so hard to phrase it this way: New White Houe Social Secretary is openly gay? Of course, the real question should be: why does anyone care what his sexual orientation is? As a society, we’re overly obsessed with ‘firsts’, ‘youngest’, ‘oldest’, etc., and insufficiently concerned with actual qualifications.
Posted by: Bob | February 25, 2011, 3:54 pm 3:54 pm
“Here, after suggesting that this guy was hired as a token homosexual to placate the gays, Mary asserts that this PROVES that the DEMOCRATS are the ones who are politically divisive, who play politics with the lives of gay people.”
Posted by: blip | Feb 25, 2011 3:28:28 PM
Yes, exactly. Blip got it, except Democrats play with the lives of everyone, not just gays. See the current state of Detroit, where 47% of its residents are functionally illiterate despite attending public schools run by…drum roll…Democrats who pander to them! So much Hope and Change. So few results.
Posted by: Mary | February 25, 2011, 3:56 pm 3:56 pm
“Because it is noteworthy, particularly if you are gay, to know that at least some people in this country don’t hate you.”
Posted by: blip | Feb 25, 2011 3:48:19 PM
No, actually it’s not noteworthy. His qualifications are. But you actually made my point for me regarding Democrats and how they pander to groups of people, so thanks.
Posted by: Mary | February 25, 2011, 4:01 pm 4:01 pm
I think there have been alot more gay people in high profile jobs so this headline is silly to me. I don’t think we are to discriminate based on sex, age, national origin or the bigee orientation. By the way before some nut says I am gay well, not, but working for a large company do know some and have no problem with it. Diversity America. Take the class.
Posted by: Steve | February 25, 2011, 4:03 pm 4:03 pm
Good for him. Being the first of anything can be difficult, but it is an important step forward.
Posted by: Marine Vet | February 25, 2011, 4:04 pm 4:04 pm
“Yes, exactly. Blip got it, except Democrats play with the lives of everyone, not just gays. See the current state of Detroit, where 47% of its residents are functionally illiterate despite attending public schools run by…drum roll…Democrats who pander to them! So much Hope and Change. So few results.”
And, Mary…. have you ever been to the South? It’s like Detroit, only an entire region of the country, run by conservatives, but subsidized by blue state tax revenues.
Posted by: blip | February 25, 2011, 4:04 pm 4:04 pm
green goddess wrote:”but simply a White House announcement about who was selected as best for the job, without a big deal over his gender, skin color, or sexual orientation”
.
Then the headline should have read “Jeremy Bernard will be named Special Assistant to the President and Social Secretary”. end of story
.
But it didn’t. oBama needs to do some pandering to his left-wing base and he needs a distraction from the results of his disastrous administration. Two birds with one stone.
Posted by: gk | February 25, 2011, 4:06 pm 4:06 pm
I’m confused. If he was hired based on his skills, then what does being gay have to do with that? And if it is noteworthy, particularly if you are gay, to know that at least some people in this country don’t hate you, then you might be ashamed of yourself to begin with. Have pride in who you are.
Posted by: Mitch | February 25, 2011, 4:09 pm 4:09 pm
Who better than a gay man with a flair for color and design to create a party atmosphere of glamor and taste for sophisticated people and Republicans.
With his European experience he will bring something fresh to the Whitehouse gatherings.
And any people who dare try to crash the party will see the rough side of him and they are flung into the street unceremoniously. The “guuurl” don’t play that game. (two snaps)
Posted by: Wayne | February 25, 2011, 4:32 pm 4:32 pm
Watch out for Gate Crashers!
Posted by: Voice_Reason | February 25, 2011, 5:00 pm 5:00 pm
GK | FEB 25, 2011 4:06:40 PM posted: “Then the headline should have read “Jeremy Bernard will be named Special Assistant to the President and Social Secretary”. end of story. But it didn’t. oBama needs to do some pandering to his left-wing base.”
Whose headline? If you google a range of media announcements about this story, the word “gay” is just as often missing from headlines.
And, the White House press release clearly avoided the use of “openly gay”. How is an ABC headline decision somehow Obama’s fault? Another grasp at straws for the daily Obama rant.
Posted by: green.goddess | February 25, 2011, 5:05 pm 5:05 pm
Blip,obviously you have never been to the South-home of such redneck institutions as Duke,William and Mary, Research Triangle,Emory,Tulane,Vanderbilt,University of Virginia.Could you have gained entrance to any of them?
Posted by: Nephron | February 25, 2011, 5:23 pm 5:23 pm
The parties are gonna be FAB-U-LOUS!
Posted by: Jose | February 25, 2011, 5:24 pm 5:24 pm
And it is absolutely nothing like Detroit.It works-that is why people are flocking to the region.
Posted by: Nephron | February 25, 2011, 5:25 pm 5:25 pm
No labels!
Who cares what gender, color or age he is, or who he sleeps with?
Can’t we get beyond labeling people and calling “First!” all the time?
Posted by: Bo, PWD | February 25, 2011, 5:32 pm 5:32 pm
And why do I need to know what this guy’s sexual status is?
Does he pitch or catch, never mind, sounds like the right man for the right job.
Posted by: Noz | February 25, 2011, 5:41 pm 5:41 pm
And why do I need to know what this guy’s sexual status is?
Why not give us a little more info like does he pitch or catch, never mind, sounds like the right man for the right job.
Posted by: Noz | February 25, 2011, 5:57 pm 5:57 pm
And why do I need to know what this guy’s sexual status is?
Never mind, sounds like the right man for the right job.
Posted by: Noz | February 25, 2011, 6:10 pm 6:10 pm
And, the White House press release clearly avoided the use of “openly gay”. How is an ABC headline decision somehow Obama’s fault?
Posted by: green.goddess | Feb 25, 2011 5:05:37 PM
ABC prints nothing without the consent of the WH.
Posted by: wheresmymoney | February 25, 2011, 9:04 pm 9:04 pm
Wonder if the Obamas will let him get married to his life partner at the White House. Just imagine….replacing the Stars and Bars with the Rainbow flag during the ceremony. Barry Obama would be sure then to get the special set of civil rights gay vote.
Truthfully, I do not give a damn if the guy is gay or just outrageously happy. But, I do give a damn that the Obamas milk every drop of political correctness they can out of every appointment.
Posted by: Caliban Ban | February 25, 2011, 10:05 pm 10:05 pm
Was this news or a 2012 campaign message to try and sway the gay vote?
Posted by: Dr John Galt | February 26, 2011, 12:27 am 12:27 am
Don’t get sassy with him sister!
Posted by: BEEBEE | February 26, 2011, 6:56 am 6:56 am
Well, you folks put the first openly socialist man in the White House. Why would anything else surprise you?
Posted by: clayusmcret | February 26, 2011, 8:28 am 8:28 am
What he really needs to be is FLOTUS’ fashion adviser.
Posted by: ConservativeWoman | February 26, 2011, 9:25 am 9:25 am
“Wonder if the Obamas will let him get married to his life partner at the White House.” – Caliban Nab
Correction, that should be . . .
Wonder if the Obamas will let him get garried to his life partner at the White House.
There is no such thing as Gay Marriage.
It’s called Garriage.
Posted by: Noz | February 26, 2011, 11:19 am 11:19 am
The openly gay social secretary will certainly turn off a lot of people. Naturally this will help WH save a lot because in this period of deep recession less and less people will flock to the WH, afraid to meet potential AIDS carriers.
Posted by: anatolepushkin | February 26, 2011, 1:19 pm 1:19 pm
Would an openly heterosexual male get equal treatment???????????????????????????
Posted by: justj joey | February 27, 2011, 4:59 pm 4:59 pm
anatolepushkin, your comment reveals a lack of knowledge about who has AIDS in this country. About 37% of cases were contracted from straight s*x. So your comment about people not coming to the White House to avoid meeting potential AIDS carriers makes absolutely no sense.
And unless they intend to have s*x or share a needle, being in social contact with someone with AIDS poses no risk. With all the news articles on AIDS in the past, I am surprised you don’t know this.
Posted by: Lydia | February 28, 2011, 7:51 am 7:51 am
Noz, Mary and others, the reason this man’s sexual orientation is being talked up, is obvious.
Gay people have put up with a lot of prejudice and job discrimination over the years. So of course when these barriers come down, it is news, just as it is news when a black citizen is the first to get appointed to a certain job.
I am always surprised that in a country where many citizens profess to be Christian, that so many don’t heed His warning, ‘judge not, lest thee be judged’. ‘Love one another’ also comes to mind.
In reality, we are all much more alike than we are different. (Except for those with levels of hatred and dislike of others who they have categorized as different from themselves.)
Posted by: Lydia | February 28, 2011, 7:57 am 7:57 am