Openly Gay Man to Serve as White House Social Secretary

An openly gay man, Jeremy Bernard, will be the White House's new social secretary, reported the Washington Post on Feb. 25.

Bernard, 49, currently holds the position of chief of staff to the United State's ambassador to France. He is slated to become the first man--and the first openly gay individual--to take on the post of social secretary at the White House, the article noted. He will replace Julianna Smoot, who served the Obama campaign as chief fundraiser; Smoot is set to relocate to Chicago and head Obama's 2012 reelection campaign.

Smoot, in turn, replaced the first social secretary to serve under the Obamas, Desir�e Rogers. Rogers left the post after an incident in late 2009, when two uninvited guests, Tareq and Michaele Salahi, joined a state dinner for Manmohan Singh, the prime minister of India.

Bernard formerly served Obama as liaison to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the article said, noting also that Bernard and his former partner, Rufus Gifford, has been significant supporters of the Obama campaign. Bernard and Gifford relocated to Washington, D.C., as a couple in the wake of Obama's presidential victory in 2008; a March 10, 2009 Washington Post article described the two men as "leading candidates for Washington's new same-sex power couple."

Gifford had landed a gig as the Democratic National Committee's finance director. The men were the proprietors of B&G Associates in Los Angeles.

The article's author, Jonathan Capehart, disclosed that he knows Bernard socially. "He will bring a certain warmth and irreverence to the job that will make him a joy for his colleagues to work with," Capehart wrote.

"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 described himself as "deeply humbled to join the White House staff as social secretary and support President Obama and the First Lady in this role," reported Politics Daily on Feb. 25. "I have long admired the arts and education programs that have become hallmarks of the Obama White House and I am eager to continue these efforts in the years ahead."

"Jeremy Bernard's appointment is historic," said the Human Rights Campaign's Joe Solmonese. "We celebrate his appointment not merely because of the ground that he is breaking but because we know that he will serve the President and First Lady exceptionally well.

"He is competent, gracious under pressure and has distinguished himself as a leader in a number of fields," Solmonese added. "The President and Mrs. Obama could not have selected a better candidate to ensure that all Americans are welcomed to the 'people's house.' "

"Anyone who knows Jeremy Bernard knows he will be a great addition to the White House," HRC board member Barry Karas said. Karas, also a friend of Bernard's, went on to say, "Jeremy is a true joy to be around and work with. His appreciation of the arts and culture will make for grand events and his understanding of the important history of the White House and the Presidency will serve the American people well."

"Jeremy's warm personality and attention to detail will make families--both the First Family and the American family--feel at home," another friend and HRC board member, Dana Perlman, added.

A White House-isued bio of Bernard noted that he had been "[a]ppointed by President Clinton" to serve "on the President's Advisory Committee on the Arts for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts."

A posting on the appointment at gay news site JoeMyGod.com drew an array of reader responses. "Queer guy for a straight guy!" one reader commented. "The White House is about to take a turn for the fabulous!" another quipped.

Other comments tended toward the catty. "A proud day for the United States of Cliche," meowed one commentator. "Will he also do Michelle's hair and serve as Flight Attendant aboard Air Force One?"

"I tend to agree," rejoined another, "but I wouldn't want a gay guy excluded from getting this kind of job either."

"The White House Social Secretary is responsible for the planning, coordination and execution of official social events at the White House, the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States," an article on the position at Wikipedia says.