Barack Obama Tweets Message to Jiwandeep Kohli Wearing PRIDE Rainbow Turban

WASHINGTON D.C. — (06-05-19) — Former President Barack Obama sent out a tweet on Tuesday of support to Jiwandeep Kohli, a Sikh man who shared a photograph of himself wearing a rainbow turban in celebration of PRIDE Month.

The popular former president also wished everybody a “Happy Pride Month.”

Obama told Jiwandeep Kohli that he had “a lot to be proud of”:

You’ve got a lot to be proud of, Jiwandeep. Thanks for everything you do to make this country a little more equal. Turban looks great, by the way. Happy Pride Month, everybody! https://t.co/SO7mgnOkgl

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 4, 2019

Barack Obama Tweets Happy Pride Month Message that Goes Viral

Kohli, who identifies as bisexual, appeared on ABC’s “The Great American Baking Show” in 2018, and said that he was left speechless by Barack Obama’s tweet response:

I’m a fairly verbose person, but today I am lost for words. Thank you for your support and the complement, Mr. Obama. If I can ever repay them with pastries, please let me know! https://t.co/ZjJzXN4MM6

— Jiwandeep Kohli (@jiwandeepkohli) June 4, 2019

Kohli posed for the picture at the 2018 San Diego Pride Festival. BuzzFeed reported that Jiwandeep Kohli shared the picture again on Saturday June 1, to mark the first day of Pride Month 2019.

The image went viral and Twitter users flooded Kohli’s timeline with heartwarming comments.

“The public reaction has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Kohli. “I realize that by being so visible, I’m opening myself up to backlash and negativity, but it is entirely offset by the sense of community that it’s engendered. I’m receiving so many messages of support and a sheer joy, and also a striking number of thanks from people who aren’t as fortunate as me to be able to display their identities.” said Kohli.

Article by: Paul Goldberg, Staff Writer