Three attendees at a White House LGBTQ+ Pride celebration on Saturday have been barred from future events after they appeared topless in a video filmed on the South Lawn. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre condemned the behaviour as 'unacceptable' and 'unfair' to other guests.
The video, posted by influencer and trans advocate Rose Montoya, showed her topless with hands over her chest alongside two shirtless trans men. Montoya, who was among those banned, defended her actions, noting that being topless in Washington DC is legal and that she intended no vulgarity.
In a subsequent TikTok video, Montoya questioned why her bare chest was deemed inappropriate after she came out as transgender, when it was not before. She said she wanted to join her friends in celebrating their top surgery scars and living in joy, while covering her nipples to 'play it safe'.
The White House stated that the individuals involved will not be invited to future events, emphasising that the behaviour was disrespectful to the hundreds of families attending the largest Pride party ever hosted at the presidential residence.
