Vice Presidential Pool Reports of June 13, 2024

#1 VP Harris Pool - remarks on mifepristone SCOTUS ruling at LGBTQ event

Hi there,

VP Harris this afternoon is participating in a conversation in her ceremonial office about "LGBTQI+ rights, the progress made towards equality over the last two decades, and the continued fight for fundamental freedoms," per OVP. Among those in attendance were some cast members and producers from "Queer Eye" - both the current, Netflix version and the original. The full list of attendees (from the VP's office) is included below.

Harris began by delivering a brief statement responding to the US Supreme Court's decision this morning in the mifepristone case.

"This is not a cause for celebration" Harris began, "because the reality is certain things are still not going to change. We are looking at the fact that two thirds of women of reproductive age in America live in a state with a Trump abortion ban. This ruling is not going to change that.

"This ruling is not going to change the fact that Trump's allies have a plan that, if all else fails, to eliminate medication abortion through executive action, so we must remain clear eyed about the threats to reproductive freedom in America and we must remain vigilant."

Your pool was escorted out immediately after the Vice President's brief remarks - no questions. Other, pre-credentialed media remained in the room for the remainder of her conversation.

An Otter of Harris's statement is accessible here: https://otter.ai/u/zwDVcmGpShed_fGN7wXZGWYrTOA

Attendees per OVP:
Carson Kressley, Queer Eye For The Straight Guy's Fashion (original cast)
Jai Rodriguez, Queer Eye For The Straight Guy's Culture and Lifestyle (original cast)
Karamo Brown, Queer Eye's Culture and Lifestyle
Jonathan Van Ness, Queer Eye's Culture and Lifestyle
David Collins, Co-founder/Executive Producer
Michael Williams, Co-founder/Executive Producer

#2 VP Harris Pool - more background on LGBTQ event

Sharing some additional background on the event, from a White House official:

Today, the Vice President is hosting some original and current cast members of Queer Eye in addition to the creators to mark the show's 20th anniversary. The Vice President and participants are revisiting what is was like to advance LGBTQI+ representation and civil rights in the early 2000s, taking stock of the progress made since then, and discussing the current landscape of LGBTQI+ rights, the attacks on civil rights, and the road ahead.

This is the first time that the Queer Eye creators and cast – past and present – are coming together for a conversation to commemorate their 20th anniversary in the context of LGBTQI+ visibility. Earlier this year was also the 20th anniversary of when Vice President Harris first officiated same-sex marriages. At the time, 61% of Americans opposed the legal recognition of same-sex marriages according to Gallup.