February 27

President Obama Appoints Gay Man
As White House Social Secretary

Note: Since I wrote this post yesterday, an embarrassing faux pas by the Wall Street Journal stared back at me over the breakfast table. Along with the story about Jeremy Bernard's appointment as White House Social Secretary (shown on left in this photo), the newspaper had mistakenly posted a photo of his former partner Gifford instead (right in the photo at left). 

The White House announced that it has appointed an openly gay male to fill the position of Social Secretary and Special Assistant to President Obama. 49-year-old Jeremy Bernard (at left in photo) will be the first openly gay person to hold the position. Currently serving as Senior Advisor to the Ambassador at the U.S. Embassy in Paris, Bernard previously worked as White House Liaison to the National Endowment for the Humanities. In his new capacity as White House Social Secretary he will report to both the first lady and the president.

The office of social secretary is responsible for a variety of events at the White House, everything from state dinners, political gatherings, themed concerts as well as receptions and luncheons. The position requires a sense of production values and diplomatic skills in dealing with competing agendas inside and outside the White House.

Said President Obama, “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. 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.”

In a press release Bernard said, “I am deeply humbled to join the White House staff as Social Secretary and support President Obama and the First Lady in this role. 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.”

As a California Finance Consultant for the Obama for American campaign, Bernard raised millions. Appointed by President Clinton, Bernard also served on the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and was a member of the Democratic National Committee from 2001 to 2009.

With former partner Rufus Gifford (at right in photo), Bernard founded a political consulting firm, and their first client was Senator Barack Obama. Gifford, poised to become finance director of Obama's reelection campaign, got custody of their beagle, Lucas, when the couple recently split. They remain close friends and supporters of each others causes and careers.

President Obama has recently stepped up to the plate regarding gay issues. He recorded a video message for the “It Gets Better” project, a response to last fall's spate of gay teen suicides. Two months ago President Obama signed the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." This week the Administration announced it will no longer defend the Defense of Marriage Act, the federal law that bans recognition of same-sex marriage. The White House employs a large number of openly gay staffers, so many that a special White House video was created for the “It Gets Better” project, in which staffers spoke about their experiences as gay and lesbian youth.