White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre attended a gay bar in Washington, DC, with eight drag queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars.
The drag queens were in DC promoting the show's new season, which premieres on May 17.
Jean-Pierre and the drag queens were photographed at the Little Gay Pub in Logan Circle on Monday. They discussed "the role drag activism plays in a political climate that opposes gender nonconformity," according to a report from LGBTQ Nation. Category Is: Press Week Realness! 💋
The queens of #AllStars9 kiki'd with Press Sec. @K_JeanPierre at The Little Gay Pub in D.C. 💗 (📸 @GettyImages) pic.twitter.com/Wo3wejIrgF
— RuPaul's Drag Race (@RuPaulsDragRace) May 7, 2024
LGBTQ outlet The Advocate reports, "This season’s cast, each competing for a charitable cause, includes Angeria Paris VanMicheals advocating for the National Black Justice Collective, Gottmik championing Trans Lifeline, Jorgeous supporting the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Nina West advocating for The Trevor Project, Plastique Tiara aligned with The Asian American Foundation, Roxxxy Andrews supporting Miracle of Love, Inc., Shannel aiding the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, and Vanessa Vanjie championing the ASPCA."
"In the afternoon, the queens visited the Little Gay Pub, a popular bar in the Logan Circle neighborhood, where White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre met with the performers," the report added. "She discussed her day’s activities, including conducting the daily press briefing and 'doing prep with the POTUS,' to which Nina West humorously inquired, 'What is the POTUS?' eliciting laughter from the group. They discussed civic engagement and how drag artists can use their platforms to speak up for LGBTQ+ activism, especially in the challenging societal climate." caught a glimpse of the AS9 dolls at Little Gay Pub tonight pic.twitter.com/pZPlAE7Un4
— JB!!!🪩🐻🍉 (@JBfromDC89) May 7, 2024
“We received the call last week, and it’s felt very surreal ever since,” the bar's co-owner Dito Sevilla told The Advocate. “When MTV referred to The Little Gay Pub as a landmark, that filled us with an unimaginable amount of pride. We’ll never be the biggest gay bar, but we can be the most meaningful.”
Later in the day, the drag queens attended a screening of the show's season premiere at the Motion Picture Association near the White House. Gay Democrat Rep. Robert Garcia attended the screening.
