LGBT protesters arrested at Boehner office
(CNN) – Police arrested members of an LGBT group on Thursday during a protest outside of House Speaker John Boehner's district office on Capitol Hill.
The activists who were handcuffed and taken into custody are affiliated with GetEQUAL action, the same lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organization that disrupted the first lady's DNC event last week.
The LGBT group is demanding federal employment protection for gay, lesbian and transgendered workers and is calling on Boehner to move forward with a vote on related legislation.
"We are somebody! We deserve full equality! Right here! Right now!" the group chanted outside Boehner's office in the Longworth House Office Building.
After several warnings, U.S. Capitol Police arrived with plastic handcuffs and removed the activists. Eight people were arrested, police said.
CNN spoke exclusively to the group as they gathered at a nearby hotel before marching to Capitol Hill.
Preparing for arrest, members of the group received legal counsel and even wrote an attorney's phone number on their skin with a marker before marching.
"We are here today because there are currently no federal workplace protections for LGBT folks in the United States of America, which we believe is wrong. If you live in a state where there are no protections you can literally be fired for being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered," said Ohio resident and Iraq War Veteran Sean Watkins.
"The president of the United States of America in 2008 promised us an executive order protecting federal contractors and anybody who does business with the federal government workplace protections for LGBT folks, he hasn't done that and continues to punt to Congress."
President Barack Obama hosted a LGBT Pride Month event on Thursday at the White House.
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They are heroes. I'm sure he cried in despair at their courage. Or just because it was his time of the month again and he needed a good cry. Hard to tell what will set that one off when everything seems to.
Meanwhile in real news:
The FBI Director testified in congress today on the IRS scandal. He was unable to name the FBI's lead investigator on this case. He did not know what steps the inspector general took or if they were appropriate. etc.
Does anybody in the executive branch ever prepare for one of these hearings? How can anybody go in front of congress on an issue that has been in the news for a month and not have these answers?
If this story had broken yesterday and it was a pop question from the news media, it is understandable. But weeks after it has broken and during testimony to congress when you have days to prepare? The guy should be fired for just being incompetent. .
It appears we have nothing but Sergeant Schultz's in our government.
It is diffiicult to understand the conversation surrounding this issue. As purposed would our new neighbors pay taxes with or without the right to vote? Will they be paid minimum wage? It's sad to thiink their best option is to become a tax paying slave of sorts. Is it also true they can not seek governmnt assistance? Will they even be eligible for food vouchers or school lunches? What about health care? Will they be included in the Affordable Care Act? Would we even allow them in from Mexico if they were fleeing violence the way Turkey and Jrdan have done for their neighbors?
So much for First Amendment rights. I guess only the Second Amendment means anything to Boehner and his type. Lord knows that in the post 9-11 world, republicans have pretty much trashed the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Amendments (and their trying reeeeeeaaaaaly hard to scrap the 14th and 15th)
LBGT resorting to bullying tactics? wow
When was the last time a tea party member was arrested for protesting...............................ah never. Who really are the kooks and subversives?
Oh, come on now... You people didn't really believe all that talk about hope and change, did you? That was just political BS to get votes.
Living in Ohio and being fired for being gay legally is what happened to me, so this story hit close to home. I know of other's who have suffered the same fate and it's grossly unjust. Yes I'd love to just up and move out of the State of Ohio but I can not afford to do so. I've also been with my man for 10 years and have battled so many stupid laws to try and get the same simple rights most Americans have today. I'm growing so tired of this. I'm not asking for Special Rights, I'm asking for Equal Rights.
As an LGBT person myself, I just have to shake my head and do an occasional facepalm at those in GetEQUAL. They say the Administration isn't doing anything for LGBT rights.
They are delusional.
They protested the same day President Obama hosted an LGBT Pride month event at the White House. The irony is so thick you cannot even cut it.
As an LGBT person, I am in my final semester of Seminary. How many LGBT people 10 years ago can honestly say they were about to graduate and work in the ministry? Not many. How many gays and lesbians 5 years ago could honestly say they were gay or lesbian in the US Army and still serve? Not many. How many LGBT legal weddings happened 10 years ago? Not many.
People will just whine and complain just because they have nothing better to do.
Discrimination on the Corporate level is big in Corporate America, I don't blame them trying to protect themselves at the Federal Level
At least they had the right group this time. The rethugs are the ones who cling to their guns and bibles and hate everyone not "them".
The repugs are the ones preventing the President and the US from moving forward. Keep at it at the Capitol., That is where the tea trolls are.
Were these dangerous people armed? Did their first amendment right to peaceful assembly come into question?
The epitome of the evil politician..."Smithers....Release the hounds"
More PC to complain to republicans than their own president I guess
There should be a lot more people invading Boehners office complaining about his job performance in general...let them know how we really feel about the bunch of do nothings in Congress. They make way too much money for the job they do not do...Flush the toilet next election...get rid of the "takers"....(the REAL takers)...Wish I could screw off at work without the fear of getting fired.......never happens in the real world...
The president told a lot of lies in 2008.
Why did he have to arrest them? I thought you could "pray the gay away".
If the protesters were disrupting anything, that's one ting. Violation of Freedom of Speech and Expression? That's something completely different. But the protesters do have a point: it's way past time that there be no discrimination in this country for ANYTHING. Christians preach tolerance and acceptance ... maybe it's time to put up or shut up.
You can be the best employee in the business these days. If your boss decides that he/she doesn't like who you date....
You can be fired.
That is wrong!!
OK, we have the Hispanics, Afro-Americans, English, Germans, Dutch, and many, many more folks. And now everyone's, almost everyone, is getting bent over this LGBT Group? JHC!!!!! What has America come to?
You can try and blame the president for a broken promise but it is up to Boehner and Congress to first pass a law allowing this.
Geez, who cares? keep your personal life to yourself. Why is it gay people always have run around how they are gay. I don`t run around saying im straight or talk about personal life. Some of these folks (not all) have some issues.
""The president of the United States of America in 2008 promised us an executive order protecting federal contractors and anybody who does business with the federal government workplace protections for LGBT folks, he hasn't done that and continues to punt to Congress." "
There are a lot of things he said he'd do and hasn't done. We were going to be out of Afghanistan in 24 months, he was going to have gitmo closed in 18 months, and the list goes on and on.
"There are a lot of things he said he'd do and hasn't done. We were going to be out of Afghanistan in 24 months, he was going to have gitmo closed in 18 months, and the list goes on and on."
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Ahhhhhhhhh... but the suckers bought it and voted for him not only once, but twice. So who's to blame?
Why were they arrested? Don't we have a right to assemble and protest in this country? I guess not if that includes protesting a congressman. But whatever you do, don't take their guns. That would be wrong.