GetEqual Activists Disrupts Obama Rally in Gables

A gathering of gay rights protesters dogged President Obama as he raised money in South Florida a week ago Monday, the latest in a series of protests from GetEQUAL supporters who say the administration has failed to reverse the military's ban on openly gay troops.

That policy stands as one of the more glaring of Mr. Obama's as-yet unfulfilled promises, and has turned into a simmering political issue heading into November's elections. Many LGBT activists say the president hasn't done enough, either on his own or in pushing Congress to act.

While professional basketball stars such as Dwayne Wade and Magic Johnson gathered in the palatial mansion of former Heat star Alonzo Mourning, GetEQUAL advocates intruded upon the event by using air horns and vivid visual displays to try to draw attention away from what was intended to be a pleasant fundraiser.

From the early spring activities of Dan Choi chaining himself to the fence at the White House, it was not the first time gay rights protesters have tried to publicly embarrass the president over his DADT policies.

Over a year ago, President Obama stood at the Human Rights Campaign's annual dinner, and promised to fulfill a campaign pledge to end the policy. Last week, Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser to Mr. Obama, repeated to the HRC that they administration would continue trying to force lawmakers to act. But as recently as last month Senate Republicans filibustered a defense policy bill that would have overturned it.

Last week in Coral Gables, GetEQUAL activists would hear none of it. Their protest mobilized a strategic land, air, and sea assault on the Obama's fundraiser. Along the President's motorcade, huge signs protesting the failure to do away with DADT intruded upon the celebration.

From the bay abutting Mourning's home, a swarm of LGBT activists arrived by boats with two 40 ft. signs and shouted via bullhorns "End the Discharges Now" and "We'll Give When We GetEQUAL".

Then, by clockwork, more LGBT activists launched two, large 8 ft weather balloons carrying 10 ft. long banners reading "GetEQUAL.org". Those weather balloons were anchored in the water directly in front of the tent hosting the dinner reception. They were clearly highly visible to guests.

"Regardless of the spin coming out of the White House, President Obama has the power to dramatically impact the course of civil rights history for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community," said Robin McGehee, co-founder and director of GetEQUAL. "Unfortunately, all we have yet to see from the president, who the LGBT community overwhelmingly supported, is excuses, delays and passing the buck off to someone else. That isn't change we can believe in, that's just more of the same."