Washington’s Capital Pride organization will present World Pride in June. There were shockwaves this week when President Donald Trump appointed Vince Micone, a gay man, as Acting Secretary of Labor. Micone brings over 30 years of experience in federal government roles. Micone has previously led the Department of Labor’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management. Plus, he has been on the board of D.C.’s Capital Pride Alliance for 15 years and now, he has resigned from the board, just months before D.C.’s WorldPride event. WorldPride is expected to attract over 2 million visitors in May and June. His present tenure as Secretary of Labor will be brief, as Trump has nominated Lori Chavez-DeRemer to the permanent position. The Senate is expected to confirm her soon. Though for a short period, Micone’s appointment marks Trump’s second appointment of an out gay man to a Cabinet position. In November, Trump nominated Scott Bessent as Treasury Secretary. The Senate Finance Committee approved Bessent’s nomination last week. On Thursday, one of the first things Micone took care of was sending an email to all Labor Department staffers saying,
“We are taking steps to close all agency [Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility] offices and end all DEIA-related contracts in accordance with President Trump’s Executive Orders … These programs divided Americans by race, wasted taxpayer dollars, and resulted in shameful discrimination.”
The same letter has been sent to other federal agencies. What a Twist of irony! A gay man, working for the anti-LGBTQ Trump administration, is dismantling DEI programs!
