Rose Montoya, a courageous trans model, and activist, delivered a powerful message by going topless at the White House following her meeting with President Biden. Montoya joined hundreds of attendees at the Pride event on the South Lawn when she decided to stand beside the Truman Balcony without a top.
While facing criticism from conservative voices, the 27-year-old responded with an important statement about female bodies. She shared a video of the moment on social media, which garnered over 4,700 likes on Instagram within 24 hours.
The video also captured Montoya’s encounter with President Biden and the First Lady, who addressed the crowd during the significant Pride event. Pushing back against the surge of anti-LGBTQ+ bills passed this year, the clip showed Jill Biden reassuring visitors, “You are loved, you are beautiful, you are heard, you belong.”
President Biden echoed a similar sentiment, describing the LGBTQ+ community as some of the bravest and most inspiring people he has ever known. Montoya even managed to take a selfie with the President as he greeted members of the public, inadvertently recording himself instead of capturing a photo.
Shortly after, the Idaho-born model made the decision to bare her breasts alongside trans men in front of the Truman Balcony, sparking intense backlash when she shared the clip on social media.
However, Montoya has responded to her critics with a follow-up video on social media. Addressing the situation, she stated, “Going topless in DC is legal, and I fully support the movement to free the nipples.” She questioned why her chest was now being sexualized simply because she identifies as a woman. Assertively, she argued, “All you’re doing is affirming I’m a woman.”
Montoya further explained that her intention was not to be vulgar but to join her trans masculine friends in celebrating their top surgery scars and embracing joy. She emphasized that she took precautions by covering her nipples during the incident to ensure compliance with regulations.
The model, who began transitioning in 2015, conveyed to her 103,000 Instagram followers that she was simply living authentically in her body, existing without apology.
