What happens when a trans woman interrupts Obama? When Jennicet Gutiérrez, an undocumented transgender Latino woman, interrupted President Obama during the Pride Month Celebration at the White House, he replied:
“Listen, you’re in my house.”
The Secret Service promptly escorted Gutiérrez from the reception. Gutiérrez, who works with several LGBT organizations asked, “President Obama [to] release all LGBTQ in detention centers,” and to “ stop the torture and abuse of trans women in detention centers.”
Obama responded:
“No, no, no, no. Hey, listen, you are in my house. You are not going to get a good response from me by interrupting me like this. Shame on you, you shouldn’t be doing this.”
Watch the Secret Service remove Gutiérrez in the video below and check out the full transcript.
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.)
