Woman Kicked Out of Federal Building for Lesbian T-Shirt

Posted by Melissa McEwan, Shakesville at 10:11 AM on August 27, 2008.

"As an African-American and a lesbian, I haven't been through one day without facing some sort of discrimination ... but this is just shocking."

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Lapriss Gilbert was escorted out of the Van Nuys, CA Social Security office this Monday, because her t-shirt, which reads "Lesbian.com," was deemed "offensive."

As she headed for a line to pick up a Social Security card for her son, Gilbert was stopped by a guard who said her T-shirt, naming an educational and resource Web site for gay women, was offensive.

She said the guard, who works for a private company hired by the Department of Homeland Security, demanded that she leave the building or face arrest.

"As an African-American and a lesbian, I haven't been through one day without facing some sort of discrimination ... but this is just shocking," said Gilbert, 31.

Lori Haley, a federal spokeswoman for the office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement - which is under the Homeland Security umbrella - said the guard was out of line.

"We believe that the actions of the contract security guard were inappropriate and unacceptable - we have notified his company, Paragon, of our position in the matter," Haley said.

In good news, "Lapriss was told she could come back into the building and was escorted to the front of the line by another Paragon security guard" because "nobody in that office felt her T-shirt was offensive by any means."

In bad news, several of the stories I've now read about this incident (including the AP's coverage) describe the shirt as "promoting lesbianism." As if Lesbian.com is a freaking recruitment site. Good grief.

Tagged as: homeland security, injustice, prejudice, lesbian.com

Melissa McEwan writes and edits the blog Shakespeare's Sister.

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Promoting tolerance? [Report this comment] Posted by: Lauren on Aug 27, 2008 10:40 AM Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] AP's coverage describe the shirt as "promoting lesbianism"! Perhaps AP should tell us what THEY promote. What is their hidden or secret desire? War and intolerance seem to be on their agenda, is it a religious perspective? Tied to a certain political party? Maybe we have found a problem we can fix, the blatant discriminatory attitude of the AP against liberal politics. Who's agenda are they working from? Karl Rove? [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: Promoting tolerance? Posted by: OneliaG Welcome to the Brave Neocon World of Privatized Everthing [Report this comment] Posted by: Plexius2 on Aug 27, 2008 10:53 AM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Not only do these rent-a-cops have next to no training in dealing with people, most of what they are taught is how to threaten and hurt people physically. The private police corps of the new Amerika consists mostly of rightwing republican fascists who needed a job. They tend to be low browed, hostile sociopaths who despise minorities, liberals, and probably go home and beat their kids and spouses for tension relief. Too bad the lady didnt opt for arrest. She had a big money lawsuit on her hands and an opportunity to show the world what happens to pigs like that guard if they hassle someone unfairly. They are slow learners, but lawsuits tend to wake up their greedy employers. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: Welcome to the Brave Neocon World of Privatized Everthing Posted by: EncinoM » RE: Welcome to the Brave Neocon World of Privatized Everthing Posted by: schiffer » RE: Welcome to the Brave Neocon World of Privatized Everthing Posted by: DaBear » maybe they come from the poor or working class Posted by: aislinnluv » RE: maybe they come from the poor or working class Posted by: DaBear Privatization [Report this comment] Posted by: frank69 on Aug 27, 2008 2:12 PM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Privatization means putting assholes in charge! [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Michael Swofford [Report this comment] Posted by: on Aug 27, 2008 3:48 PM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Gee, maybe she forgot to take her shoes off. Isn't all this going wayyyyy too far? Scary stuff & seems to be spreading like kudzu. Didn't that moron rent-a-cop have an alert supervisor to step in & stop 'im, as this rude & inexcusable behavior choreography was going on. How sad. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: Gee, maybe she forgot to take her shoes off... Posted by: DaBear It's a First Amendment issue, I think... [Report this comment] Posted by: bgentry on Aug 27, 2008 4:07 PM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] In my opinion, her tee-shirt could have said or showed anything that wasn't flat out illegal for some reason and the First Amendment would have supported her right to wear it anywhere. Perhaps the rent-a-cops should have a course on the Bill of Rights before they start trying to "protect" us. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » First Amendment issue Posted by: aislinnluv Private citizens should be encouraged to carry tasers. When [Report this comment] Posted by: thekidde on Aug 27, 2008 5:30 PM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] confronted by Nazis, they should be allowed to use them with impunity. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Civil Rights [Report this comment] Posted by: wcox on Aug 27, 2008 6:25 PM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] This should interest the ACLU. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] T-Shirts can be illegal in the USA [Report this comment] Posted by: corey on Aug 28, 2008 4:47 AM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] READ MORE: The three shirts on this page feature the names of troops killed in Iraq. List of names is preceded by larger text that reads "4,058 U.S. Troops Who Died in Iraq from March 20, 2003 Through April 30, 2008." List of fallen is in alphabetical order. Six states have passed legislation aimed at outlawing the sale of these shirts (Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arizona). Similar legislation has been proposed in Michigan and Maryland. Federal legislation is also pending. The shirts are also the target of a $40 billion class-action lawsuit. We continue to sell these shirts in all 50 states and will do so until the troops come home or they throw us in jail, whichever comes first. MORE: Federal Court Blocks State from Enforcing Law Criminalizing Anti-War Shirts ACLU Press Release 8/20/08 PHOENIX, AZ – A federal judge today blocked Arizona from enforcing a new law that makes it a crime to sell anti-war t-shirts that list troops killed in Iraq. The permanent injunction striking down the law as unconstitutional ensures that Flagstaff activist Dan R. Frazier will be able to exercise his First Amendment rights by continuing to sell t-shirts featuring anti-war messages. READ FULL: http://www.carryabigsticker.com/bush_lied_shirt.htm [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: T-Shirts can be illegal in the USA Posted by: marie.vorrath It's all the same [Report this comment] Posted by: Erin on Aug 28, 2008 4:56 AM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] No matter what name you call it by - "contracted security guard, Whitewater, Gestapo - it's all the same. Wake up America, Big Brother has taken control. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: It's all the same...Whitewater? Posted by: DaBear X-POLYGAMIST WIFE in ARIZONA [Report this comment] Posted by: X-POLYGAMIST WIFE on Aug 28, 2008 8:04 AM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] John McCain has not lifted a finger to stop the worst human rights violations in America. http://www.bankingonheaven.com [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » McCrazy generally prefers those human rights violations Posted by: DaBear Wow, if even ICE says the guard was out of line.... [Report this comment] Posted by: papibear on Aug 29, 2008 2:21 PM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] ...then that says quite a lot, I think. Then again, what do you expect for $8.00 an hour? A professional? [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

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» RE: Promoting tolerance? Posted by: OneliaG

» RE: Welcome to the Brave Neocon World of Privatized Everthing Posted by: EncinoM

» RE: Welcome to the Brave Neocon World of Privatized Everthing Posted by: schiffer

» RE: Welcome to the Brave Neocon World of Privatized Everthing Posted by: DaBear

» maybe they come from the poor or working class Posted by: aislinnluv

» RE: maybe they come from the poor or working class Posted by: DaBear

» RE: Gee, maybe she forgot to take her shoes off... Posted by: DaBear

» First Amendment issue Posted by: aislinnluv

» RE: T-Shirts can be illegal in the USA Posted by: marie.vorrath

» RE: It's all the same...Whitewater? Posted by: DaBear

» McCrazy generally prefers those human rights violations Posted by: DaBear

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