In a reversal of past department policies, Attorney General Michael Mukasey allowed the Department of Justice Pride group, which represents gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans-gendered employees, to use the Great Hall for its annual awards ceremony.
During the tenure of Attorneys General Ashcroft and Gonzales, DOJ Pride had been forbidden from using the Hall or any government computers for its activities. Along with recognizing the contributions of the GLBT community to the DOJ, Mukasey was given a standing ovation by the audience. The keynote speaker, Robert Spagnoletti, closed event by urging the audience to embrace who they are, affirming, “We can demonstrate pride in ourselves everyday.” To read more, click here.