by Rex Wockner
Gays and lesbians were arrested in three separate protests March 18 at the White House and at the offices of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Washington, D.C., and San Francisco.
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" activists Lt. Dan Choi and Capt. Jim Pietrangelo were arrested after they handcuffed themselves to the fence surrounding the White House. They were charged with failure to obey a lawful order. The two were jailed overnight, pleaded not guilty and face trial April 26.
Also arrested was activist Robin McGehee, who co-organized last year's National Equality March. She was taken into custody after helping Choi and Pietrangelo attach themselves to the fence. McGehee reported via Twitter that she was fined $35.
The D.C. action started at an anti-DADT rally organized by the Human Rights Campaign and comedian Kathy Griffin. Choi crashed that rally and, after initially being rebuffed, was allowed to speak. He then invited Griffin and HRC President Joe Solmonese to march with him to the White House.
Neither went with the group of about 100 people who marched to the White House – a decision that led to criticism of Solmonese and HRC on blogs and elsewhere. HRC's critics said Solmonese's refusal to support Choi, who has become something of a hero in the gays-in-the-military battle, was another example of HRC being out of touch and ineffective.
ACT UP founder Larry Kramer called for Solmonese to resign over the debacle, writing: "Joe, you are one big schmuck! Choi wants to speak, you let him speak and thank him for showing up and offering to do so. When are you going to step down and disappear so someone can take over with guts and a sense of what's really important and (who) knows how to strategize?"
Equality Illinois co-founder Rick Garcia called HRC "a house homo" for the Obama administration.
"HRC does what it is told," Garcia said. "It dupes well-meaning gay people to open their wallets and it produces nothing for us and provides cover for politicians who fuck us over."
HRC seemingly attempted damage control after Solmonese's inaction was criticized online.
"There's been some confusion about Lt. Dan Choi's role in the rally," HRC wrote. "As Joe Solmonese was walking on stage, Lt. Choi asked Joe if he could have a speaking role. Joe explained that it wasn't his sole decision to make on the spot given that there was already an established program that included Kathy Griffin, other organization (sic) and veterans. After Choi then spoke with Kathy Griffin, she agreed to bring him up on stage and speak to the crowd during her remarks. Lt. Choi in his speech called on the crowd to march on the White House. Joe Solmonese along with Eric Alva and others felt it was important to stay and engage those at the rally in ways they can continue building the pressure needed for repeal. This does nothing to diminish the actions taken by Lt. Choi and others. This is the nature of social change and everyone has a role to play."
AMERICAblog's John Aravosis then called HRC liars.
"I was there, standing next to Dan, about 10 feet from Kathy Griffin and Solmonese," Aravosis wrote. "They were behind a rope line, to keep them from the rally attendees. They looked over at Dan when he asked them, for the second time, to come with him to the White House … and they just stared back at him. They were not helping engage the rally about how to build pressure – the rally was over, they were already off the stage, behind it actually, getting ready to leave behind a secure rope line to separate them from the crowd. I'm sorry, but this statement is flat-out untrue. They were getting their photos taken. Unbelievable."
Meanwhile, GetEqual.org activists in D.C. and San Francisco staged sit-ins at the offices of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, saying they would not leave until she promised to bring the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to the floor of the House for a vote this month.
Four protesters were arrested in D.C. and six were arrested in San Francisco. The California activists were cited and fined on a disturbance charge. The D.C. protesters were released without bail and will appear in court April 6.
"A majority of Congress supports this bill to stop job discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, but promises to bring it to a vote last fall were broken several times," GetEqual said in a statement. "ENDA has been jammed up in committee for six months, awaiting a signal from Speaker Pelosi that hasn't come. We have visited, called and written Congress by the thousands, and have been ignored. … Now the midterm elections are coming, and Speaker Pelosi has promised Congress no more 'controversial' votes. The 'controversy' is whether LGBT Americans have the right to a job. … Nonviolent direct action is relevant and needed and it's happening now."
It is legal in 29 states to fire people for being gay and it is legal in 38 states to fire people for being transgender.
