Jeremy Bernard has made history by becoming the first male, and openly gay, social secretary to a U.S. president. Bernard was an early supporter of President Barack Obama and helped raise millions of dollars for his 2008 presidential campaign. He has served as senior adviser to the American ambassador to France, Charles Rivkin, and previously was the White House liaison to the National Endowment for the Humanities. As social secretary, Bernard will be “equal parts gatekeeper, decorum master, people’s host and implementer of the Obamas’ vision,” according to Ashley Parker of The New York Times.

 

Obama’s first White House social secretary, Desirée Rogers, resigned after gatecrashers gained access to a State Dinner in November 2009. She was replaced by fund-raiser Julianna Smoot, who resigned to concentrate on Obama’s reelection.

-Noel Brinkerhoff, David Wallechinsky

 

Gay Male Secretary for the White House (by Ashley Parker, New York Times)

Obama's Gay Gold Mine (by Patrick Range McDonald, LA Weekly)