She contrasted that experience with the welcoming she received when joining the Biden administration and the acceptance she’s felt at the Department but used that moment to announce she was stepping down and leaving EJE after nearly four years. “What I want to leave you with as I depart the agency… I implore you to love,” she urged the crowd. “Some may say we have to roll back the rights of Black Americans, roll back the rights of LGBTQ+ Americans, roll back the rights of Latinx, that we have to dismantle all the things that have created progress… my hope is that you continue to love, but never forget to fight!”
The audience then received a welcoming message from White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, the first openly LGBTQ+ person to hold that position.
EJE’s newly named Principal Deputy Director Tamia Gordon then introduced keynote speaker Shawn G. Skelly, a 20-year Navy veteran who has since spent 12 years in presidentially appointed roles at the Pentagon. She is currently performing the duties of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.
As a trans woman, Skelly acknowledged hateful rhetoric and speculation that she got her job because of her gender. “I didn’t get my job because I’m trans,” she explained. “I am able to do my job, I am able to succeed and have done well enough that somebody gave me this opportunity because I’m trans. My authentic self is my best self… the person I was before wouldn’t be performing well enough.” Official news published at https://www.energy.gov/justice/articles/department-energys-pride-month-observance-celebrates-progress-while-reflecting
