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Local leaders visit White House over holidays

Each year the President and his family receive guests from all over the world to share in holiday celebrations at the White House. In 2011 there were three receptions and at least two Michigan LGBT community leaders and their partners were selected to make the visit.
KICK founder Curtis Lipscomb and his partner Willie Jew and Equality Michigan Executive Director Denise Brogan-Kator and her partner Mary Kator were both touched by their invitations and their experiences with the First Family.
"The White House was amazing," said Lipscomb. "We were able to come and go through much more of it than I would have thought. My favorite was the Green Room. There was a Green Room and then a Red Room, and in the Green Room you can see the taffeta patterns in the wall. The pictures of past Presidents impressed me as well. There were people like Teddy Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and William Clinton and I wonder if sometimes Obama thinks about where his picture might hang when he leaves office."
Even more amazing, Lipscomb said, was the food. "When I got there I was told this was the best food I'd ever eat in my life and they were right. The First Lady and the President had a wonderful spread. There were so many hor dourves, cheeses and breads, and I had beef and fish. And then there was the best eggnog in my life. It was wonderful. The Marine Band did swing jazz interpretations of holiday standards and they were absolutely amazing."
But the best thing about the visit was being able to meet and mingle with "people doing all kinds of work in the private and nonprofit sector, leaders in many communities with different backgrounds. It was an honor to be among them. I met people from the Two Spirits community and I was really surprised to see one of my favorite comedians Cheryl Underwood there," said Lipscomb.
He had been invited by the Obama for America campaign. His organization, KICK, helps connect African American LGBT people and allies with events, advocacy and discussion groups.
For Brogan-Kator it was the second visit to the White House in 2011, having been there in June for the LGBT Pride Reception, and then again on Dec. 13, 2011 with her partner Mary.
"We were not expecting to meet the President or the First Lady and, instead, were looking forward to seeing the White House all decked out for Christmas," Kator said.
"We were, therefore, surprised when we arrived and were given cards with a time on it for a 'receiving line.' Nevertheless, we spent our time enjoying the White House. The White House was spectacularly decorated – with something like 37 Christmas trees, in total, though we didn't get to see them all. The desserts included a gingerbread replica of the White House and cookies made to look like the first family's dog, Bo.
"We dined in the State Dining Room under the painting of President Lincoln. The food was exquisite.
We were only given just a few seconds with President Obama and the First Lady, just enough to exchange a greeting. I thanked the President for his work for gay and transgender Americans and he asked me where I was from. When I said 'Michigan,' the First Lady looked over and said 'Michigan? We're going to Michigan.' I then stepped over to speak with her and Mary stepped up to speak with the President. He asked her where she was from and she, pointing to me, said "I'm here with my wife; we're from Michigan.
"It is a memory I will always treasure – especially as this President has done more to advance equality for gay and transgender Americans than all other previous presidents combined," said Brogan-Kator.

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