美国白宫近日任命积极支持同性恋运动的男“同志”伯纳德为白宫社交秘书，成为总统奥巴马和第一夫人米歇尔的首位男秘书，也是担任这个职位的第一位公开的同性恋人士。他的工作内容包括安排国宴、节庆派对、音乐会及游客参观总统官邸等事务。白宫社交秘书的首要任务，是要展现白宫的热情好客，传统都是由女性担任，这次破例由一名男“同志”出任，可谓耳目一新。

　　奥巴马发表声明说：“伯纳德和我们都希望令白宫成为全民之家，令白宫以充满活力和包容的方式，发扬我国文化历史。”他说：“我们期待伯纳德持续透过白宫许多活动，向国民和世界介绍美国艺术及文化。”伯纳德之前在美国驻巴黎大使馆任驻法大使特别顾问，他也是奥巴马长期的支持者及筹款人员。

　　Jeremy Bernard will serve as social secretary to President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle.

　　The White House is about to get its first ever male -and openly gay - social secretary.

　　Jeremy Bernard will serve as social secretary to President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle.

　　The job, traditionally filled by a woman, will put Bernard in ultimate charge of dispensing sumptuous White House hospitality at events from state dinners to holiday parties, concerts and tours of the presidential mansion.

　　"Jeremy shares our vision for the White House as the People's House, one that celebrates our history and culture in dynamic and inclusive ways," the Telegraph quoted Obama as saying in a statement.

　　"We look forward to Jeremy continuing to showcase America's arts and culture to our nation and the world through the many events at the White House," Obama said.

　　Bernard, a long-time Obama supporter and fund-raiser, has been serving as special adviser to the US ambassador to France at the US embassy in Paris.

　　"I am deeply humbled to join the White House staff as social secretary and support President Obama and the First Lady in this role," Bernard said.

　　"I have long admired the arts and education programs that have become hallmarks of the Obama White House and I am eager to continue these efforts in the years ahead," Bernard added.