Even Though The White House Won’t Throw A Party, We Still Will

“Every time the White House lies by saying the press is the enemy of the people, it hurts our democracy. If the White House won’t extend the courtesy of a holiday party with the press, we will.” — Alex Morash, Media Director at the National LGBTQ Task Force.

(Washington DC, December 11, 2018) – Last year, after the Trump Administration excluded certain White House reporters that were Black or LGBTQ, the National LGBTQ Task Force decided to throw a party for the press called Not The White House Holiday Party. We had so much fun we decided to host the party again this year.

After the Task Force announced the party on November 30, The Washington Post reported on December 9, that the White House does not appear to be hosting a press party at all.

While the White House may not be throwing a holiday party for the press, the Task Force’s is still on.

The Task Force’s Not The White House Holiday Party is a light-hearted holiday soiree to thank journalists for all the hard work they do and to highlight the importance of a free press. Rea Carey, executive director of the Task Force, stated that, “At a time when media is facing changes in the industry and dealing with relentless criticism from elected leaders, it is that much more important to remember to highlight the need for a free press in a democratic society and thank journalists for their hard work.”

Alex Morash, the Task Force’s media director, said the original reason to host the holiday party again this year was to make the event an annual holiday party for members of the media that are not always invited to the holiday parties held across Washington, D.C. and stated that, “This year we wanted to make the party an event for everyone in the press. From the young reporters just out of college who might not be on the DC high society invite list to senior columnists who are, we wanted to welcome them all for a fun holiday event.”

With the possibility the White House’s own holiday party won’t happen, Morash stated that, “If the White House ends the tradition of a holiday party with the press, it would be yet another instance of this administration chipping away at a relationship with free and independent media. Every time the White House drops a courtesy to journalists or lies that the press is the enemy of the people, it hurts our democracy little by little until we can no longer know what are facts and who to trust.”

The event will take place on Tuesday, December 18 at the National LGBTQ Task Force’s Washington, DC headquarters at 1325 Mass Ave on the 6th floor. The event runs from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Refreshments and Holiday goodies courtesy of Lyon Bakery will be served. Please note, due to alcohol being served the event is for journalists 21 and over.

Members of the media may RSVP on Eventbrite.