During a panel at Netroots Nation this afternoon called 'What To Do When The President Is Just Not That Into You', activist Lt. Dan Choi ripped up an "Obama for America" pamphlet that a campaign volunteer delivered to the stage as he tried to explain the President's position on marriage equality, Think Progress reports.
Said the volunteer to Choi, and another member of the panel: "I can’t say I’m for marriage equality, but as a bisexual man, I would take a bullet for both of you."
Choi became angry, tore up the flyer, and threw it at the man, saying, "Did you not understand? Here! I believe that I’m an equal citizen."
Replied the volunteer: "I understand that, but Obama hasn’t gone officially on record for it…"
Said Choi: "Then, don’t tell me that I’m a bad person, go tell him that he should believe in my full equality and then report back."
Chris Johnson of the Washington Blade also wrote about the incident:
Asked afterward by the Washington Blade whether he felt he was too harsh with the campaign volunteer, Choi replied, “Sometimes love comes in harsh forms. I love my detractors enough to let them know when they are misguided and I only regret that we are both suffering under a second-class citizenship imposed by politicians who smile pleasantly while denying our fight for justice. The harshest treatment would be our acquiescence to the view that we do not deserve equality.”
Watch the video, AFTER THE JUMP…
