Human Rights Campaign's New York Gala Dinner Protested By Queer Occupy Wall Street Group

Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein might have just spoken out in support of same-sex marriage, but not everyone is thrilled by his company being honored for its stance on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights.

On Saturday, a subset of Occupy Wall Street protesters calling themselves "Queer/LGBTIQA2Z Occupy Wall Street" protested the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) gala dinner at New York's Waldorf Astoria hotel because the organization was honoring Goldman Sachs.

"This company is using the mantel of gay rights to hide all of their other crimes, all of the other harm they have caused the LGBT community and the world," unofficial protest leader Joe Annino told Queerty, as seen in the video above.

Added another unofficial protest leader, Jeffrey Marx: "Their idea of equality is, 'Everyone can come to the country club.'"

A petition calling for HRC to withdraw their honor of Goldman Sachs was started on Change.org. "This company has outsourced thousands of jobs overseas," the petition read. "They have taken billions of dollars in taxpayer money with one hand while passing out pink slips with the other. They are a contributor to the economic collapse that has led LGBT Americans, like all Americans in the 99 percent, to have to struggle to make ends meet, keep their homes and take care of their families."

Though the protesters huddled outside the hotel, as Queerty notes, the gala dinner went on uninterrupted inside.

Comments

[dbrett480]

09:38 PM on 02/08/2012

These protesters make a pretty valid point. The HRC honoring Goldman Sachs for it's stance on a relatively minor issue, compared with the damage they have done, is ridiculous.

[lizr]

10:49 PM on 02/07/2012

UNBELIEVABLE! HRC now YOU are not getting anymore of my money! P*tzes!

[SockMan856]

04:38 PM on 02/06/2012

Interesting... 2 people were interviewed, and I did not see others in the background... another picture showed about a dozen people. I would rate the protest a big Failure.

[jmarx]

07:42 PM on 02/06/2012

Thats because the little kid who interviewed us for Queerty didnt go across the street where the approximately 80 protesters where gathered. This video took place in a public space diagonally across the street. I was getting into costume. Its a great idea to judge everything based on one video.

[SockMan856]

10:04 PM on 02/06/2012

Looks like the "little kid" was the only one that did... so why mock him?

And why a costume??? were u afraid to be seen for who you really are??

My suggestion is... Join the HRC and work to change from within... or better yet get your group to come up with a business plane and raise money for your cause.