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Monday evening, several GetEQUAL activists interrupted President Obama during his speech at a fundraising reception for Senator Barbara Boxer in Los Angeles, expressing anger over the slow progress on repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ this year and demanding that he repeal it.
GetEQUAL activists interrupted President Obama during his speech at a fundraising reception for Senator Barbara Boxer in Los Angeles Monday, expressing anger over the slow progress on repealing ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ this year and demanding that he repeal it.
"We had a job to do, he needed to know we were there," GetEqual activist Laura Kanter, who audibly interrupted the President's speech, told SheWired. "People don't have equal rights, and its wrong. People suffer because of DADT."
During the fundraiser the activists shouted, “We love you, Obama!” and continued with “what about ‘don’t ask, don’t tell?’” and “it’s time for equality for all Americans.” The President, at one point bringing his remarks to a halt and asking for Kanter, and the others, to approach the podium said, “Barbara and I are supportive of repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’.”
Activists including Kanter, David John Fleck, Dan Fotou, Zoe Nicholson, and Michelle Wright were then escorted out of the reception by security and police.
“President Obama has been AWOL on DADT,” Fotou said, in a press release. “We had to remind him of the promises he made to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community during his campaign and several times during his Presidency -- that DADT will be repealed because, as he's stated, ‘it's the right thing to do.’”
Kanter, a close friend of Lt. Dan Choi, who was discharged from service for being gay, said she firmly believes it's wrong to deny Choi, and every other LGBT American who is willing to risk their life for this country, the opportunity to serve.
Also a proud supporter of Obama, Kanter said she feels that actions like what GetEQUAL demonstrated are wanted and needed for Obama to continue to show his adminstration and our country the support and determination the LGBT community has for achieving full equality. She said that outside pressure is needed in order to demonstrate the importance of our struggle.
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For Kanter, Choi’s struggle epitomizes the harsh reality of pain and discrimination soldiers living under ‘don’t ask, don’t tell' suffer. While the Los Angeles event was under way, Choi was preparing his own action of chaining himself to the White House fence, for the second time, in protest of the policy.
Kanter said that just as she was about to confront the President Choi sent her an inspiring text message: Laura we need you to stand up for those who can’t. Speak and shout for those who are afraid to whisper.
Although many people around her at the event asked her to be quiet, and later to “shut the fuck up,” Kanter did not stop until she was escorted off the premises. She said that she knew she had to put all fear aside, and finish the job she had come to do because no civil rights movement has ever succeeded without civil disobedience.
Kanter said that she and other GetEQUAL activists realize that no matter what the action or cause for protest is, there will always be people who respond negatively. She feels, in this case, that those who opposed her actions, do not understand that GetEQUAL was there to support the President -- to remind him of his promises during his campaign and to show both President Obama and his administration that the pressure to get full equality for our community is not going away.
“We made it clear our community will hold accountable our President for unkept promises,” Michelle Wright, another activist in attendance, said in a release. “Denying LGBT service members and personnel the ability to serve their country is unfair.”
The action took place nearly one year after a similar protest outside an Obama appearance in Los Angeles, when Lt. Dan Choi asked the President for a response to a letter signed by 136,000 people to repeal DADT.
“These empowering and brave activists feel so strongly about our rights they were willing to confront the President of the United States on his lack of leadership on DADT and to hold him accountable for the promises he has made to our community,” said Kip Williams, of GetEQUAL.
Although unable to reveal any specific details, several members of GetEQUAL have confirmed to SheWired that Monday’s confrontation and Tuesday’s protest of vets handcuffing themselves to the White House fence are just the beginnings of many more upcoming events throughout the country as part of the effort to get DADT repealed.
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