Justice Department gay group unbanned

by Rex Wockner

U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey has unbanned the Justice Department’s gay group, DOJ Pride, the Washington Post reported Feb. 5.
In 2003, the group was barred from holding its annual pride-month celebration by then-Attorney General John Ashcroft, who also reportedly prohibited the group from posting information on agency bulletin boards or using its e-mail system.
Ashcroft said it was unwritten department policy not to sponsor events without a presidential proclamation. The policy was continued under Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, who succeeded Ashcroft.
But Mukasey now has issued an equal-employment-opportunity policy prohibiting discrimination against any employee organization and has informed DOJ Pride of the change, the Post said.
In a statement, Mukasey said the Department of Justice will “foster an environment in which diversity is valued, understood and sought.”