Yesterday at the annual LGBT Pride Month Reception, a heckler interrupted Obama’s speech. Jennicet Gutiérrez continued to try to get the President’s attention in regards to the deportation of undocumented transgender immigrants. Gutiérrez is the founder of FAMILIA TQLM, an immigrant rights organization. Fusion.net reported that ICE detains an average of 75 transgender detainees a night. They account for one of every five sexual abuse cases in ICE detention.
After telling the woman he would not respond, Obama asked for her to be escorted out. Many attendees booed the woman as she was escorted out of the event. Obama continued his speech, which was met by a round of applause.
See the transcript and video below:
THE PRESIDENT: Hey! Hey! Hey! (Applause.) So this is rowdy crowd. (Applause.) I don’t want you guys to break anything while you’re here now. (Laughter.) Thank you, Megan, for the wonderful introduction and, more importantly, the great work that you are doing. We’ve got some outstanding members of Congress here today, including Leader Nancy Pelosi. Give Nancy a big round of applause. (Applause.) I want to thank all of you — advocates, organizers, friends, families — for being here today.
Over the years, we’ve gathered to celebrate Pride Month, and I’ve told you that I’m so hopeful about what we can accomplish. I’ve told you that the civil rights of LGBT Americans is —
AUDIENCE MEMBER: President Obama!
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, hold on a second.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: (Inaudible), President Obama!
THE PRESIDENT: Okay, you know what — no, no, no, no, no, no, no. No, no, no, no, no.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: President Obama —
THE PRESIDENT: Hey —
AUDIENCE MEMBER: (Inaudible.)
THE PRESIDENT: Listen, you’re in my house. (Laughter and applause.) You don’t — come on. It’s not — you know what, it’s not respectful when you get invited to somebody —
AUDIENCE MEMBER: President Obama (inaudible).
THE PRESIDENT: You’re not going to — you’re not going to get a good response from me by interrupting me like this.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: President Obama —
THE PRESIDENT: I’m sorry. I’m sorry.
AUDIENCE: Booo —
THE PRESIDENT: No, no, no, no. No, no. No. Shame on you. You shouldn’t be doing this.
AUDIENCE: Obama! Obama! Obama!
THE PRESIDENT: Can we escort this person out? Come on.
You can either stay and be quiet, or we’ll have to take you out. All right, can we have this person removed, please?
THE PRESIDENT: Come on.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: President Obama —
THE PRESIDENT: Come on. Come on. Nope. No. Come on. Come on, guys. I’m just going to wait until we get this done.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: (Inaudible) deportations! No more deportations!
THE PRESIDENT: Okay, where was I? (Laughter and applause.) So as a general rule, I am just fine with a few hecklers — (laughter) — but not when I’m up in the house. (Applause.) You know what I mean? You know, my attitude is if you’re eating the hors d’oeuvres — (laughter) — you know what I’m saying?
THE VICE PRESIDENT: I do.
THE PRESIDENT: Okay. And drinking the booze. I know that’s right.
Anyway, where was I?
AUDIENCE MEMBER: We love you!
THE PRESIDENT: I love you back. (Applause.)
