YouFirstNews
Published on Jun 24, 2015
Obama: "Shame on you" to White House heckler. President Obama is heckled at a White House event honoring the LGBT community with Obama saying, "Shame on you," as he called for heckler to be removed. Heckler at White House LGBT pride reception was undocumented transgender woman Jennicet Gutiérrez with @GetEQUAL. Undocumented Transgender Woman Who Interrupted President at White House Pride Event Calls to End Deportation
President Obama was heckled today during a special LGBT Pride reception at The White House, prompting the President to ask that the person be removed.
The heckler repeatedly said the President’s name, interrupting him as he started his address to the crowd.
President Obama faced off with a heckler during a reception celebrating LGBT Pride Month at the White House, telling the person “you’re in my house.”
Obama was interrupted shortly after beginning his speech to the crowd by a person who repeatedly shouted the president’s name.
“No, no, no , no. Listen, you’re in my house,” Obama told the person.
“You’re not going to get a good response from me by interrupting me like this,” Obama said.
But the heckler would not let up, despite Obama’s pleas, boos from the crowd and chants of “Obama! Obama!” The president became visibly irritated, and the woman was escorted from the room at his request.
“Shame on you, you shouldn’t be doing this,” he said.
The protester was identified as Jennicet Gutiérrez by the Not One More Campaign, which opposes the Obama administration’s deportation policies.
Gutiérrez, an undocumented transgender woman, could be heard shouting “not one more” and “stop all deportations.”
“As a general rule, I am just fine with a few hecklers,” Obama said. “But not when I am up in the house. My attitude is if you’re eating the hors d'oeuvres, you know what I’m saying? And drinking the booze? I know that’s right.”
Turning back to his speech, Obama touted the gains made for gays and lesbians under his administration and addressed an imminent Supreme Court ruling on whether same-sex marriage is a constitutional right.
"There are a few decisions coming down in the next few days that I'm paying close attention to,” he said. “However the decision comes down on the marriage issue, one thing is undeniable: there has been an incredible shift in attitudes across the country.”
He noted there were two states where gay marriage was legal when he took office, but now there are 37.
Obama said transgender people are increasingly accepted by mainstream America, noting high-profile individuals who have come out and TV shows that "transgender individuals and families," an apparent nod to Caitlyn Jenner.
“The power of example is slowly changing people’s hearts,” Obama said.
There is no Pride as long as LGBTQ Immigrants are being imprisoned, she says.
WASHINGTON, DC — Just moments ago, Jennicet Gutiérrez interrupted the President during the White House pride celebration shouting “President Obama, release all LGBTQ immigrants from detention and stop all deportations.” As a transgender woman who is undocumented, Gutiérrez said she could not celebrate while some 75 transgender detainees were still being exposed to assault and abuse in ICE custody at this very moment.
“The White House gets to make the decision whether it keeps us safe, “explains Gutiérrez “There is no pride in how LGBTQ and transgender immigrants are treated in this country. If the President wants to celebrate with us, he should release the LGBTQ immigrants locked up in detention centers immediately.”
Gutiérrez came to the US from Mexico, seeking safety and economic opportunity. Gutiérrez has become one of many voices advocating for LGBTQ immigrants: upon arrival, she found community among other transgender immigrants, many of whom had been detained in ICE custody. Gutiérrez was a founding member of FAMILIA TQLM, established to advocate for LGBTQ immigrants often excluded in the immigration debate. The work of the organizations she represents, Familia QTLM and GetEQUAL, was echoed yesterday when 35 Congresspeople signed a letter sent to ICE demanding the agency release LGBTQ immigrants out of concern for their safety.
Update: Jennicet Gutiérrez, protester at White House LGBT event, releases statement; says President Obama has 'no concern for the way that LGBTQ detainees are suffering'
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