New London — The city's mayor and his partner, who are legally married in Connecticut, will join President Barack Obama at the White House next Thursday in celebration of LGBT Pride Month.

Mayor Daryl Justin Finizio and Todd Ledbetter will represent the city at the White House, where New London is being recognized nationally for its commitment and support of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, according to a press release.

"My partner and I are moved by this invitation and are very grateful to President Obama for doing so much to support equal rights for all Americans," Finizio said in the release. "We're proud to attend and represent our progressive city and its broad and diverse community of people from different nationalities, religions and genders."

Finizio and Ledbetter had a civil union — which provided legal recognition to the couple's relationship and legal rights similar to those accorded to spouses in marriages — on July 4, 2008. When Connecticut changed its law on Oct. 1, 2010, existing civil unions became marriages.

Finizio said he and Ledbetter hope to have a celebratory wedding ceremony in the future.

The release said New London is the only city in southeastern Connecticut with two gay bars, Frank's Place and O'Neill's Brass Rail, and a softball league with LGBT teams, Southern New England Softball.

"As a native New Londoner, I will be proud to join my partner in representing our great City," Ledbetter said in the release. "As a board member of outCT (a New London-based LGBT pride committee), I am equally proud to represent the broader southeastern Connecticut LGBT community as we prepare to inaugurate our own pride events this year in New London. These events will grow our economy and celebrate our diverse community."

j.hanckel@theday.com