TikTok influencer Rose Montoya, who identifies as a transgender woman, has apologized for appearing topless outside the White House last week.
Montoya appeared alongside other transgender-identifying people on the South Lawn of the White House during a Saturday Pride event. Montoya shared a video on TikTok detailing the event featuring Montoya topless alongside biological women identifying as transgender men, who displayed their mastectomy scars.
"Today I need to apologize," the transgender activist introduced the video. "Earlier this month I was invited by the White House to attend a Pride celebration with both President Biden and Dr. Biden. I, alongside other powerful voices in the queer and trans communities, were invited to be represented, seen, and heard in a unique and very special way."
Montoya cited "rampant anti-2SLGBTQIA+" violence and legislation in the country, saying the transgender activist was "proud to be invited" to the event.
"In a quick moment of fleeting and overwhelming trans joy, I decided to do something unbecoming of a guest of the President at the White House lawn celebration," Montoya continued. "Moreso than ever before, I have learned how powerful, and just how impactful, my actions are, and how impactful it is when we share our stories and experiences, and how we do so with the world."
"I wanna take this moment to apologize for the impact of my actions."
"I especially want to apologize to my black trans brothers and siblings, especially transgender women who are black," Montoya said, adding the transgender activist understands they are "constantly on a disproportionate level impacted by the actions of others, and especially anti-trans violence."
The transgender activist also apologized to family and friends, citing "harassment" following Montoya's stunt at the Saturday Pride event.
"I would also like to apologize to my own community," Montoya said, apologizing to the "2sLGBTQIA+ community" along with President Biden, the White House, and the nation.
"It was never my intention to create a situation that would lead to harassment and harm of myself and others," Montoya said, adding the transgender activist's moment of "trans joy" was being "weaponized by vile people of the opposition."
Montoya said the transgender activist was committed to using the moment to create positive personal change as well as change in the "broader community and the world at large."
"It is my sincere intention to actively promote empathy, equity, inclusion, and understanding through my words ... my actions, and my advocacy efforts," Montoya continued, adding the transgender activist feels "energized to educate and articulate" the importance and power of "trans joy" in a more effective way.
The transgender activist concluded by asking media outlets and journalists to respect Montoya’s family’s, friends’, and loved ones’ privacy, adding Montoya would be unavailable for additional comments at this time.
