Trans activist who interrupted Obama speaks out: “We need to be heard”
By Nick Bond
The transgender activist who made world headlines yesterday after a heated exchange with President Obama at the White House has spoken up about her decision to interrupt the President.
Jennicet Gutiérrez is an undocumented trans Latina leader with FAMILIA TQLM, campaigning against LGBT deportation, and was filmed shouting over the President during a reception to mark Pride month this week.
While Obama was mid-sentence, Gutiérrez heckled him about the detention and deportation of LGBT asylum seekers.
After pausing his speech, Obama replied: “Listen, you’re in my house.”
With the activist undeterred, he continued: “It’s not respectful when you get invited. “You’re not going to get a good response from me when you interrupt me like this. I’m sorry.”
He added: “Shame on you. You shouldn’t be doing this”, at which point which the crowd started chanting the president’s name.
Writing for the Washington Blade, Gutiérrez explained her decision, saying she was desperate to highlight the discrimination and mistreatment faced by LGBT immigrants.
“Last night I spoke out to demand respect and acknowledgement of our gender expression and the release of the estimated 75 transgender immigrants in detention right now. There is no pride in how LGBTQ immigrants are treated in this country and there can be no celebration with an administration that has the ability to keep us detained and in danger or release us to freedom,” she writes.
“It is heartbreaking to see how raising these issues were received by the president and by those in attendance. In the tradition of how Pride started, I interrupted his speech because it is time for our issues and struggles to be heard. I stood for what is right. Instead of silencing our voices, President Obama can also stand and do the right thing for our immigrant LGBTQ community.”
Read her story in full at Washington Blade.