Labor Secretary Hilda Solis issued a warning letter to departmental employees late last week, after posters celebrating Gay Pride Month hanging in 35 department elevators since June 22 have been either defaced or removed altogether.
In an e-mail message sent to the entire department, Ms. Solis, who helped found the House of Representative’s Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Caucus when she was in Congress, said she was outraged by the behavior.
“It appears, however, that some members of the Labor Department team have a different view, as it has come to my attention that most of the posters have been continually defaced or removed,” Ms. Solis wrote. “On several occasions, even the poster frames have been torn completely off the elevator walls.”
“I do not believe these actions represent the majority of our employees, so I refuse to let this situation define us.
The posters will stay up throughout the month and will be replaced immediately if they are damaged or removed, according to the letter.
The administration has been trying to assuage gay rights advocates, who have been unhappy with the slow pace take by Obama officials of initiatives on their agenda. President Obama and the first lady are holding are reception this Monday night with more than 200 advocates.
In recent weeks, the gay community has criticized the administration for not being assertive enough on their issues. Mr. Obama has yet to act on a campaign promises to overturn Don’t Ask Don’t tell, the military policy barring gays and lesbians from open service and to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. On Capitol Hill gay rights face plenty of obstacles, despite the democratic majority.
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