WTH: What the heckling! First lady Michelle Obama targeted by lesbian protester

michelle obama spreads her wings

First lady Michelle Obama was interrupted by Ellen Sturtz, a GetEQUAL protester, 0n Tuesday, June 4, 2013, at a $10,000-a-person Washington, D.C. political fundraiser. While the exchange is not a part of FLOTUS’ official transcript for the evening, pool reporter Amanda Terkel writes, “[m]ost notable part of the event was an interruption from a protester about 12 minutes into the 20-minute speech. A pro-LGBT rights individual standing at the front began shouting for an executive order on gay rights.”


Ellen Sturtz, a GetEQUAL activist
Ellen Sturtz, a GetEQUAL activist

The gay rights activist demanded the president issue an executive order forcing federal contractors to stop discriminating against gay and transgendered job applicants when she was at the podium speaking to approximately 200 Democratic Party loyalists. Hello protester … this is a fundraiser where the first lady is the keynote, not the president.


‘”One of the things I don’t do well is this,” the first lady told the crowd. She left the lectern and moved over to the protester, saying they could “‘listen to me or you can take the mic, but I’m leaving. You all decide. You have one choice.'”

The crowd, the pool report continued, “started shouting that they wanted FLOTUS to stay.”


Terkel reported that while the reporter was being escorted out she shouted, “Lesbian looking for federal equality before I die.”

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