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Michelle Obama's speech interrupted by gay protester | Michelle Obama's speech interrupted by gay protester |
(35 minutes later) | |
A speech by US First Lady Michelle Obama at a fundraising event has been briefly interrupted by a protester demanding equal rights for gays. | A speech by US First Lady Michelle Obama at a fundraising event has been briefly interrupted by a protester demanding equal rights for gays. |
Mrs Obama was speaking in Washington when a woman in the crowd started shouting, demanding White House action on gay and lesbian rights. | |
Mrs Obama then approached the woman and said: "Listen to me or you can take the mic, but I'm leaving." | Mrs Obama then approached the woman and said: "Listen to me or you can take the mic, but I'm leaving." |
The crowd urged Mrs Obama to stay, and the woman was then escorted out. | The crowd urged Mrs Obama to stay, and the woman was then escorted out. |
The protester at the Democratic National Committee fundraiser on Tuesday evening was later identified as Ellen Sturtz, a member of the GetEQUAL gay rights group. | The protester at the Democratic National Committee fundraiser on Tuesday evening was later identified as Ellen Sturtz, a member of the GetEQUAL gay rights group. |
Ms Sturtz, 56, was calling for an executive order to bar discrimination by federal contractors based on sexual orientation or gender identity. | |
As she was escorted out, reporters heard her say she was a "lesbian looking for federal equality before I die". | |
In an interview with The Huffington Post, she 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." | "I was surprised by how negative the crowd seemed to be. It was actually a little unsettling and disturbing." |
She said gay activists had been asking Mr Obama to sign the executive order for five years. "How much longer do we need to wait?" | |
In his first term, Mr Obama voiced his support for gay marriage and helped push the repeal of the US military's ban on openly gay service members through Congress. | |
But he also said he would not sign an executive order related to federal contractor hiring. Legislation to that end has not advanced in Congress. | |
Tuesday's event was held in the home of a lesbian couple who had previously raised money for the Obamas. Attendees had paid $500 (£326) to $10,000 for tickets. |