Army Lieutenant Dan Choi and GetEQUAL
co-founder Robin McGehee were among the 13 protesters arrested Monday
outside the White House, CNN reported.
The gay activists
handcuffed themselves to the north gate in protest of “Don't Ask,
Don't Tell,” the 17-year-old law that bans gay and bisexual service
members from serving openly.
The incident occurred as Congress
begins its lame-duck session, considered by repeal backers to be
their last opportunity to end the policy before Republicans take
charge of the House and increase their numbers in the Senate.
“Today, we have sent a loud and clear
message to the U.S. Senate and President Obama that we expect them to
make good on their promises to end this inhumane law this year,
during the lame-duck session of Congress,” McGehee said in a
statement.
The protesters shouted, “I am
somebody! I deserve full equality!” as U.S. Park Police cut the
protesters down from the fence and carted each away.
Choi was discharged from the Army last
year after he announced that he is gay on MSNBC's The Rachel
Maddow Show. He
reenlisted as an openly gay man last month during the brief 8-day
window that the Pentagon was barred from enforcing the policy by
court order.
Choi,
McGehee and three of the activists have previously been arrested for
the same act of civil disobedience.