Topless at 'Sexual Minority Rights Month' Event
White House Spokesperson: "It Was Rude... No Future Invitations"
Mento-ya Responds: "Toplessness Is Legal in Washington DC"
A controversy has arisen after a transgender female activist exposed her chest at a White House event for 'Pride Month,' which celebrates LGBTQ+ rights.
On the 13th (local time), according to ABC and Fox News, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated at a briefing, "The individual who exposed their chest at the Pride Month event will no longer be invited to the White House," adding, "Their behavior was inappropriate and disrespectful."
On the 10th (local time), transgender female activist Rose Montoya, who was invited to the 'Pride Month' event held at the South Lawn of the White House in Washington DC, USA, sparked controversy by posting a video exposing her chest on her TikTok. [Photo by Rose Montoya TikTok]
Earlier, on the 10th, a Pride Month event took place on the South Lawn of the White House, attended by U.S. President Joe Biden. The event, organized to demonstrate the Biden administration's support for the LGBTQI+ community, invited hundreds of people, including LGBTQI+ families, to join.
However, controversy arose when Rose Montoya, a transgender woman attending the event, posted a video on her TikTok showing herself and her group topless and enjoying the event.
U.S. President Joe Biden (left) is applauding at the 'Pride Month' event held on the 10th (local time) in the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C. Photo by AP and Yonhap News.
The video Montoya shared included scenes of entering the White House South Lawn, President Biden delivering a speech, and Montoya shaking hands and taking photos with the President.
Notably, at the end of the video, Montoya and her group were shown topless with the White House as the backdrop, emphasizing their chests. Montoya covered only specific parts of her chest with both hands while shaking it, and beside her, a person appearing to be a transgender man who had undergone mastectomy posed topless as well.
Their unexpected actions immediately drew criticism. Criticism of Montoya came not only from conservative netizens but also from within the LGBTQ+ community.
Instead of showing remorse, Montoya responded by stating, "Going topless in Washington DC is legal."
'Pride Month' was established to commemorate the uprising by sexual minorities in the Stonewall area of New York, USA, in June 1969. Every June, various events are held in major cities around the world, including the United States, to protect the rights of sexual minorities. [Photo by AP·Yonhap News]
In a new video posted on TikTok, she explained, "Transgender women are women. People seem to sexualize women's bodies," adding, "My transgender male friends were proudly showing their surgery scars and enjoying the party, and I wanted to be with them."
Meanwhile, 'Pride Month' was established to commemorate the uprising by LGBTQ+ individuals in June 1969 in the Stonewall area of New York, USA. Every June, various events are held in major cities worldwide, including the United States, to protect LGBTQ+ rights.
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