Eye Opener: Gay rights protesters confront Obama

Eye Opener: Gay rights protesters confront Obama
By Ed O'Keefe
Copyright by The Washington Post
April 20, 2010
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/federal-eye/2010/04/eye_opener_gay_rights_proteste.html?hpid=artslot


Just days after President Obama extended hospital visitation rights to same-sex couples and amid several other moves extending rights to gay and lesbian Americans, he faced protesters Monday night upset that he has yet to repeal the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

"Repeal 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell!'" a protester shouted during Obama's speech at a Los Angeles fundraiser for Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), according to a White House transcript.

"We are going to do that," Obama replied, noting later that Boxer voted against the Pentagon's gay ban.

"That is a key issue, but I think putting Californians back to work is also a key issue," Obama said as he regained control of the room.

The protesters were members of GetEQUAL, according to the White House press pool report. The group's Web site said it will "not accept excuses, delays, compromises, or empty promises" and will "hold accountable any person or organization who stands in the way" of equality for LGBT Americans.

"I am protesting because while I volunteered for, voted for, and still believe in Obama, I also believe is time to repeal don’t ask don’t tell," an apparent protester wrote on tumblr.com.

Though it was a momentary interruption, the outburst highlights simmering impatience among activists upset that Obama hasn't placed a moratorium on discharging service members because of their sexual orientation. The incident also highlights a divide in the gay community between "Those who take to the streets or the Internet vs. those who try to figure out how to get those last five votes on a bill," or put another way, more radical activists versus "Gay, Inc." as The Post's Lonnae O'Neal Parker coincidentally reports today.