Obama Heckled by Gay Rights Protesters (Video)

By: Kevin Hechtkopf
Topics: Domestic Issues

(Credit: AP)

Last night, during a fundraiser in Los Angeles for Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer, President Obama was heckled by gay rights protesters who are unhappy that the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" has yet to been repealed despite administration promises to do so.

"What about don't ask, don't tell?" one protester shouted shortly after Mr. Obama began his remarks, according to the pool report.

Mr. Obama replied, "We are going to do that." But there was several more interruptions through the speech. The protesters were from GetEQUAL, the group that was behind a protest at the White House last month where activists Lt. Dan Choi and former Army infantryman Jim Pietrangelo were arrested after handcuffing themselves to a gate.

After one protester yelled "it's time for equality for all Americans," Mr. Obama responded by saying, "can I just say again Barbara and I are supportive of repealing Don't Ask, Dont Tell."

At one point, the rest of the crowd tried to drown out the protesters by shouting "Yes We Can" -- Mr. Obama's 2008 campaign slogan.

One of the protestors, Dan Fotou, talked to the blog "LGBT POV" about the experience.

"It was worth it to us," he said of buying $500 tickets to the event.

The military is currently engaged in a nearly year-long review of the impact of repealing the 1993 policy, which bars gays and lesbians from serving openly.

You can watch some of the video below:

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Kevin Hechtkopf
Kevin Hechtkopf is CBSNews.com's politics editor.
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by jherrer2 April 21, 2010 11:58 PM EDT: Paradisa1

How can you tell people to keep quiet when one of the best things about this country is FREE SPEECH?

People have to learn to tolerate other people. Having a mental or physical condition that may put others around you at risk is not the same thing as what your favorite sexual organ is.; Reply to this comment


by apuan777 April 21, 2010 11:54 PM EDT: by slow-news-day April 21, 2010 10:09 AM EDT

As there is no "creator", there are no rights given.
---------------------------------------------------------

So apparently you were formed from nothing.; Reply to this comment


by Paradisa1 April 21, 2010 11:39 PM EDT: I have a "pre-existing condition" and was never allowed to join the military. If the statements I continue to hear are true and being "gay" is not a choice but instead something you are born with, then it would seem this is a "pre-existing condition" as well! I was never allowed in because I would never have been able to keep my brothers in arms completely comfortable around me, and it seems to me that should someone fighting for this country and life and limb be near another that could possibly throw him off his game, the best choice IS to keep everyting quiet. Like it or not, everyone has the right to their own opinions and their own feelings - and in some places and times there are certain things that are better left unsaid. What's good for the few is not always good for the many - and a war zone may not be the place to fight for civil or legal rights. Just do everyting you can to make sure as many soldiers as possible get home as possible.; Reply to this comment


by jherrer2 April 21, 2010 10:55 PM EDT: Why is it that our country constantly takes cheap shots on minorities? If this is indeed a christian nation where is the compassion that you speak of?

Maybe the naysayers should attempt to understand the argument instead of holding up signs full of misspelled words.

This country is quite the joke. We would no doubt be 50 years ahead of where we are now if we just dropped the nonsense of sky daddy and the jewish zombie aka Jesus.; Reply to this comment

by jmvette23 April 21, 2010 7:52 PM EDT

I was in the United States Marine Corps back in 1991. I served my country the same reason many served and died and that was for our freedom. I am not against anyone and do like people but Gay people do NOT belong in our military. If i knew there was a gay bastard in my unit, I would of left immediately even if it was going AWOL. I man should be a man and around men only men belong in a unit with no Gay bastard near. Where is our country headed to? We are getting weaker by the minute as this should of never happened. " God made Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve." This is totally against humanity, morality and definitely against what God the all might asked for. All Gay people who are not medically born like that and became Gay by choice will burn in hell according to the bible. I truly don't dislike them even if it seems that way I just don't see their point of view and will never accept it. All this Gay right movement stuff is a bunch of bull and thanks to our government that allowed it. Yes, We have rights but that is taking it way beyond what is truly right. Good luck you Gay people as you will be giving your confession to the Lord when we all resurrect. Satan has taken you by messing with your minds and making you Gay, confusing you that Gay is correct and it's ok. You let him in your mind, he controlled your mind and feelings and he took over because you are a bunch of weak bastards.

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by doctor_know April 21, 2010 8:09 PM EDT: so you say you fought for freedom, but do not think gays deserve that same freedom, correct? Did you get hit in the head or something?

I think dont ask dont tell should be repealed, and if you dont want to serve in the military with gays, then YOU DONT HAVE TOO!!!


by jmvette23 April 21, 2010 8:31 PM EDT: "At least I did not get hit where you got hit you gay bastard." That is the reason I left as it started back then and I definitely did not want any part of a gayish Marine Corps.

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by ZoeNicholson April 21, 2010 5:23 PM EDT: I was the third heckler. I shouted, ?Mr. President, it is time to repeal Don?t Ask, Don?t Tell. I am somebody. I deserve full equality. The time to repeal is now. It is the right thing to do. Get Equal.?

The boom of my voice was enormous. The whole room stopped, including the President. I had never heard myself be so loud. Clearly it would not be drown out by the people in my vicinity who started telling me to shut up. I just kept going. After several repetitions, the President look straight back to me and said, if you have so much to say, then come up here and say it. I said out loud yes, lifted my right hand as if to part the crowd and make my way. Funny thing, I actually would have been more comfortable on the stage than in the crowd. I was relieved and all my facts were streaming through my mind about what I wanted to tell him. As I made a ten foot advance I felt two men in black suits take my elbows in tow. It wasn?t mean, it wasn?t aggressive just certain, with purpose and they knew that I was not going to resist their about face.; Reply to this comment


by Empire-George- April 21, 2010 12:49 PM EDT: "What about don't ask, don't tell?" one protester shouted

Mr. Obama replied, "We are going to do that."
_____________

That was until some of the Joint Chiefs said, hold up....not a good idea

Now he's flapping away in the breeze; Reply to this comment

by Empire-George- April 21, 2010 12:47 PM EDT

by slow-news-day April 21, 2010 10:09 AM EDT

As there is no "creator", there are no rights given.
____________

Well those that wrote the Declaration of Independence disagreed with you, not only did they say, endowed by "Our Creator", but "Nature's God" as well.

"inalienable" - incapable of being alienated, taken or transferred.

When someone sneezes, do you say, "Internal God - bless you" ?

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by science-rules April 21, 2010 6:28 PM EDT: Saying "god Bless you" when someone sneezes is a vestigial practice based on the belief that evil spirirts cause disease and that blessing someone will cure them. The only people who cling to this sort of nonsense are hard-core wackos (you know --> tea party types)

by DearleMA April 21, 2010 1:06 AM EDT

The best thing the USA could ever do is abolish religion within its nation and tell the people who want to practice that they have to do it in their buildings and home, and if they dont like it leave. no more back wards corrupt government that is always running a political propagandized campaign, our founding fathers and the masons were religious but believed there was a time and a place, and it didn't enter the halls of congress, until the church had people push bills, A.K.A the churches voice!

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by ThomasJeffersonLives April 21, 2010 1:21 AM EDT: DearleMA; I only ask, from your heat of hearts, what do you believe? I agree no one no religion should dictate the policy of the United States, but as citizens who are dedicated to a unifying principle, We should stand for nothing less than the rights given to US by nothing other than our creator.


by Servant63 April 21, 2010 10:40 AM EDT: Abolish Religion? Let's think about your suggestion... Take away the Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Speech? Where do we stop? How about abolishing all freedoms because we don't like what people say or believe/practice? I have found that people are usually offended by some other belief because they are uncomfortable and uncertain about what they believe.


by jewels5839 April 21, 2010 12:35 AM EDT: I would like to add that I am confident that Obama is working on changing the don't ask don't tell issue. It takes time to make the changes in writting, reviewed by attorneys and 20 other things. Please be patient with this and I am sure we will see it happen soon. His plate over-flowith with the crap that was left behind still. Hell, he just got done fixing stupid, now he has a chance to move on to the real issues.; Reply to this comment