First Lady Michelle Obama decided to confront a gay rights heckler at a Democratic fundraiser last night (4 June). About 12 minutes into Obama’s 20 minute speech, a lesbian standing at the front of the crowd began yelling for an executive order on equality for LGBT people. ‘One of the things that I don’t do well is this,’ the lawyer, writer and wife of the US president said to loud applause. Journalists at the event reported she left the lectern, approached the protester, and scolded her by giving the crowd an ultimatum. She said: ‘Listen to me, or you can take the mic, but I’m leaving. You all decide. You have one choice. The crowd shouted they wanted Obama to stay, and the protester was escorted out as she shouted she wanted ‘federal equality before I die’. It was revealed later the protester was Ellen Sturtz, 56, an activist from the pro-LGBT rights group GetEQUAL. In an interview with The Huffington Post, the protester said: ‘I was asked by the First Lady to be quiet, and I can’t be quiet any longer. ‘I was surprised by how negative the crowd seemed to be. It was actually a little unsettling and disturbing.’ Sturtz added: ‘I want to talk about the LGBT young people who are…being told directly and indirectly, that they’re second-class citizens. I’m tired of it. They’re suffering. ‘We’ve been asking the president to sign that [Employment Non-Discrimination Act] executive order for five years. How much longer do we need to wait?’ Last year, both Obamas became the first sitting US president and First Lady to voice their support for equal marriage. gaystarnews/article/michelle-obama-goes-head-head-gay-rights-heckler050613
Posted on: Wed, 05 Jun 2013 11:20:07 +0000
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