Trans woman banned from White House events over topless Pride celebration defends herself

A transgender model has been barred from future White House events after posing topless, with her nipples covered, on the South Lawn.

Rose Montoya, a model, activist and influencer, was attending the White House Pride celebration on Saturday (10 June) when she posed topless for a video, with her hands covering her nipples, which she later posted on Instagram.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed on Tuesday (13 June) that Montoya and two others who posed similarly would not be invited to future events as a result.

“The behaviour was simply unacceptable,” Jean-Pierre said. “We’ve been very clear about that. It was unfair to the hundreds of attendees who were there to celebrate their families.”

She echoed a White House statement provided on the same day, which said the exposure was “disrespectful” and did not reflect the administration’s values.

“This was not a normal thing that has happened under this administration,” Jean-Pierre continued. “We’ve been very clear about how we saw this particular behaviour.”

*Rose Montoya defends topless pose on White House lawn*

Rose Montoya defended her actions after the wave of condemnation for her behaviour was mixed with transphobic hate speech and vehement misgendering.