White House says activist who took top off at Pride celebration won't be invited back

Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY
Updated ·2 min read
29

The White House announced a woman who took her top off during an event on the South Lawn over the weekend would not be invited to future events.

Images and footage circling social media show trans model Rose Montoya topless, covering her breasts with her hands, during a LGBTQ Pride month celebration hosted by the administration on Saturday in Washington D.C.

During a White House press briefing Tuesday, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre condemned the trans activist for the display.

“The behavior was simply unacceptable. We’ve been very clear about that," Jean-Pierre said. “It was unfair to the hundreds of attendees who were there to celebrate their families. It’s not appropriate, it’s disrespectful.”

“Individuals in the video certainly will not be invited to future events,” the press secretary said.

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US President Joe Biden speaks during a Pride celebration on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on June 10, 2023. A woman who took her top off at the event 'will not be invited' to future White House events, officials said. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
US President Joe Biden speaks during a Pride celebration on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on June 10, 2023. A woman who took her top off at the event 'will not be invited' to future White House events, officials said. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

Who is Rose Montoya?

Montoya, 27, who goes by pronouns she/they, was among hundreds of people the Biden administration invited to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue to celebrate Pride Month which is observed each June.

On social media, Montoya, whose Instagram biography identifies her as an educator, model and actor, called the video an act of joy in celebrating the transgender community.

"I wanted to be fully free in myself," Montoya said in a video posted to Twitter. “I had zero intention of trying to be vulgar or be profane in any way. I was simply living in joy, living my truth and existing in my body. Happy Pride, free the nipple.”

During the event Saturday, dubbed the largest Pride event in White House history, President Joe Biden lambasted "dangerous anti-LGBTQ" laws passed in state legislatures around the country. He singled out a Florida law that bans the teaching of gender identity and sexual orientation in public schools.

The event also included a speech from the first lady and performance from singer Betty Who.

Natalie Neysa Alund covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: White House bans Rose Montoya, trans woman, who took top off at Pride