President Obama was interrupted several times by GetEQUAL activists during a speech at a fundraiser for Senator Barbara Boxer in Los Angeles on Monday.
Activists shouted, "What about 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell?'" and "It's time for equality for all Americans."
At one point the President halted his speech to address the activists. He said, "Barbara and I are supportive of repealing 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'."
David John Fleck, Dan Fotou, Laura Kanter, Zoe Nicholson and Michelle Wright were eventually escorted out of the fundraiser by security.
The President committed to repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell during his campaign, and renewed that campaign promise during this year's State of the Union Address. He said, "This year, I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are."
The LGBT community is concerned that Don't Ask Don't Tell will not be repealed this year, as rumors abound that Congress does not plan to do so.
"We made it clear our community will hold accountable our President for unkept promises," Michelle Wright said in a statement. "Denying LGBT service members and personnel the ability to serve their country is unfair."
GetEQUAL is an LGBT organization that helped orchestrate Lt. Dan Choi's protest last month, when he and another officer chained themselves to the White House gate in protest against Don't Ask Don't Tell.
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Look at the posts by callingemout and shamroc02. They deride the notion that LGBT civil rights are somehow like earlier civil/voting rights movements. They also are conveniently ignorant that earlier movements were not uniformly meek and polite, so they can label LGBT protesters as selfish fanatics.
You also appear to equate "dishosest" with criticism of Obama or did I just imagine the failure to prosecute torturers, the escalation of the war in Afghanistan, the continuation of executive secrecy, Obama's open stance against gay marriage, his deal with Big Pharma to kill the public option...the list of his 'accomplishments' goes on. He has done some positive things but they are usually weak relative to major issues.
When LGBT Americans have basic non-discrimination protection in employment, housing and adoption as well as marriage equality then you can moan at people for being "hostile". You want us to quietly accept a second-class citizen status because your homophobia has been obvious throughout this thread.
I also find it amusing that you keeping trying to avoid moderation by typing "@" instead of "a" in "fanatic" even though this is a fully moderated article.
Besides. You can't take away rights we've never had anyway.
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^ Like they held accountible previous Presidents? Like Clinton for signing the bill in the first place or Bush for doing nothing to help the cause? Give me a break..a lot of them barely even supported Obama throughout the election, so the fact they assume their cause should be number one is laughable.
With that said, I do hope they will repeal DADT..because I support the repeal..but the disrespect of this President by interrupting his speech, not so much.
They were not right to be rude, obnoxious and disruptive. President Obama has plenty of issues to deal with and getting bills through the senate without a filibusterer is one of his hurdles.
So .. If the protesters had brought up the issue, then cheered when Obama pointed out he was on board with the issue, that would have been positive.
Continuing to protest and disrupt when they got what they came for was a turnoff. For me, it placed gay issues a notch down on the list of priorities. Fortunately, I know that most gays are not so obnoxious.
So, the actions of a few caused you to lose respect for the issue itself?
That's very troubling, and quite sad, actually.
We'll try to keep these "huge turnoff's" to minimum in the future and act extra hard to keep you turned on by, well, just "pulling" better stunts!
Thanks for the heads up!
This issue is so mportant. Where the hell were you for the past 8 years with this stuff? Attention whores who have no respect.
So why are you here? Just to tell us that you are a homophobe and this incident of a few activists is more reason for you to maintain that bigoted attitude?
You sound just like some right wing 'patriot' shouting 'love it or leave it'.
The sit-down-and-be-respectful people for get that women's suffrage, the labour movement, civil rights for minorities, etc. were all won with some loud, in-your-face tactics. Waiting-your-turn just means waiting to be treated with dignity.
This should not be healthcare all over again--we should quit inflicting damage on ourselves and our ability to accomplish our goals.
No one is denying LGBT Americans the ability to serve their country. So no problem.
I may not agree with your tactics but I support your rights as free Americans to speak your mind in the way you choose, rather than the way I might choose for you.
I do NOT want to walk my child on Army plaza in stead of National Park.
And I do not have to.
There is MY FREEDOM starts in National Park.
Also, in many other places.
I want to know, how many of you, with guns, really protected someone's luife.
At least one?
And no, you do not need to remind me but of course, if you feel inclined (you must) go right ahead.
But again, What???
Most Pro Gay rights President this WORLD has ever seen and they target HIM instead of the people against him. Insanity. Only looking for their own self interest and press.
That pattern you've noticed, looks like its working.
Also, apparently there is a letter that was sent to families of the military asking them for their opinion on Dont Ask Dont Tell (from the government). What does that have to do with repealing it. You repeal it based on principles not because military families are for it or against it. Was there such a letter when the military was desegregated.
The people who spoke up arent "targetting" him, they are simply making sure he remembers the promises he made.
NO ONE THERE ACTED IMPRESSED.
Obama has always included the LGBT in his agenda and if they can't act like ADULTS and help move his ENTIRE agenda forward....they can take a hike for all I care.