Woman forced from federal building for wearing lesbian t-shirt

[PageOneQ]

Source: Associated Press

A woman wearing a T-shirt promoting lesbianism said she was forced the leave a federal building Monday by a security guard who didn't approve of her attire.

Lapriss Gilbert said she was picking up a Social Security card for her son when the guard was offended by her "lesbian.com" shirt and threatened her with arrest.

Read more: http://pageoneq.com/news/2008/Woman_forced_from_fed_building_for_wearing_lesbian_t_0826.html

[glowing]

1. Well, that security guard will probably be fired...

[OwnedByFerrets]

8. Here's hoping....nt

[sakabatou]

88. .

:toast:

[valerief]

23. In JesusBushWorld, he'll probably be promoted. nt

[lonestarnot]

53. Well he ought to be!

Assholes have no place with authority!

[Growler]

60. I hope so. n/t

[billyoc]

2. Easy money.

Arrest me, I need the money.

[klyon]

33. Damn right

"go ahead" would be my answer as I held my wrists out to be handcuffed

[Lance_Boyle]

3. WTF is a 'lesbian t-shirt?'

Prefers v-necks to turtlenecks?

[noonwitch]

6. The shirt said "lesbian.com"

Which is I guess what makes it a lesbian shirt.

Not that the guard had any right, though.

[knitter4democracy]

24. Is that like McCain's gay sweater?

Granted, her shirt had a website on it, but most knitters are still scratching their heads over McCain's gay sweater. What makes a sweater gay?

[RedLetterRev]

41. Reminds me of a two-part graffito I once saw

which went:

My mother made me a homoses_xual.

If I bring her the yarn, will she make me one, too?

Still one of my favorites :)

[knitter4democracy]

43. I'm so posting that on a knitting website.

Great knitting joke. :)

You should've seen the discussions over what could possibly make a sweater gay. It got quite funny. :D

[RedLetterRev]

47. You just have to PM me some.

I don't knit, but I'm gay with a very broad and warped sense of humor :D

[dixiegrrrrl]

71. Dad? Is that you?

[knitter4democracy]

73. I know a knitblogger you'd like, then.

http://the-panopticon.blogspot.com/

He's hilarious, and his running stories of Dolores crack me up. :)

[RedLetterRev]

81. Good Lord and he's cute, too! n/t

[knitter4democracy]

92. Darn right he is!

He's even cuter in real life. He came to one of my local yarn shops for a photography project he's doing (I think he's linked the 1000 Knitters project website on his blog), and he was so nice and wonderful that everyone fell in love with him. Careful--we knitters are very protective of those we love. :)

[RedLetterRev]

93. I love great creative writing

Being a wedding officiant in my off-time, that's part and parcel of the job. I sent my partner the link to Franklin's site and I could hear his giggles all the in my study. He's got quite a gift for spreading joy. If you see him again, do let him know that it is greatly appreciated. He's got two more loyal readers.

[knitter4democracy]

94. I'm sure he'd love a post or e-mail.

He actually reads all of his comments, I know. He knew a lot of us by our blog names.

[orleans]

52. lol. n/t

[midnight]

4. I'm starting to see a pattern of sleeping citizens. They think

that this t-shirt is unimportant. Like some think that the convention demonstators are unimportant. But there is a pattern that will end with people asking why they can't buy their favorite magazine or books anymore. Or some other nonsense.

[tblue]

34. Oh, and by the way, she's black

[amyrose2712]

44. I know people always try to say "If you are not doing anything wrong...

you shouldn't worry. But, who decides what is wrong? and when? What about when it becomes illeagal to be a democrat? or not the right religion? This has to stop before it is out of control!! (although i think it is too much already!

[tbyg52]

74. First they came for the..... nt

[NJmaverick]

5. That's pretty messed up

[LynnTheDem]

7. Time to do something about Iran! Or was it in Saudi? Uzbekistan?

What idiot nation was so ignorant to do such an ignorant thing???

[kansasblue]

9. We should return... men and women in an hundred 'lesbian' shirts

where is this?

[TheWraith]

16. I like that idea.

If for no other reason than to irritate and torment the idiot guard.

[Zuiderelle]

10. That security guard needs firing.

Like the poster above suggests, we should get as many people as possible to go there in LESBIAN t-shirts.

Unbelievable. I would have been soooooo pissed off if that was me.

[Bozita]

11. Security guard works for a private company. Sounds like a rent-a-cop to me.

Buy your own uniforms. Company lends you a *gasp* badge. Minimum wage. No benefits. GED or better preferred.

[Hekate]

12. Private company = accountable to none of us. :-( nt

[RufusTFirefly]

13. Whaaat? I thought all rent-a-cops were Constitutional scholars.

My mistake.

Seriously though. An alarming number of people seem to believe that if something is controversial or makes them uncomfortable there must be something wrong or downright illegal about it.

Things that reinforce the status quo aren't what need First Amendment protection. It's the things that challenge us that do. That's because the reflexive response to messages that take us out of our claustrophobically circumscribed worlds is to stop them. That's why the Amendment exists. And that's why it is the very first one.

[yardwork]

21. Yes, and its the Patriot Act that enables this kind of thing to go on...

From the article:

The guard, whose name was not immediately available, works for Paragon Security, which contracts with the Department of Homeland Security.

Lori Haley, a spokeswoman within the Homeland Security Department, said the guard's actions were inappropriate and unacceptable.

"We have notified his company, Paragon, of our position in the matter," Haley said.

A message left with Paragon Security was not immediately returned Monday night.

Gilbert said the guard cited a document, the Rules and Regulations Governing Conduct on Federal Property, as proof he had jurisdiction over her clothing. The document does not address what type of clothing is allowed in federal buildings.

[ieoeja]

57. And the very next sentence in the article.

"The document does not address what type of clothing is allowed in federal buildings."

Glad to see another guard escorted her to the FRONT of the line after finding out what was going on.

[VP505]

25. Minimum wage, NO benefits and

NO AUTHORITY. So many people don't realize that Security Guards have NO AUTHORITY to do anything other than what an ordinary citizen can do and that is, call the police or notify someone who does have authority and let them handle it.

[Night_Nurse]

38. Private company but under contract...

The guard, whose name was not immediately available, works for Paragon Security, which contracts with the Department of Homeland Security.

[izquierdista]

14. Her problem totally

She forgot to wear the right matching accessory -- the button that says "I SUE for false arrest".

[unblock]

15. makes me want to sport one of those t-shirts in support

however, being male, people would probably think i was promoting a porn site.


that guard needs an unpaid leave and some major retraining, and probation. if his record isn't squeaky clean, then he needs to be let go.

[TheWraith]

17. If that's not damn fine grounds for the firing of the guard and a hefty cash settlement...

Then I don't know what is. The lady aught to get a lawyer and whack "Paragon Security" into the ground.

[tannybogus]

18. It was a Social Security office.

VAN NUYS - A routine trip to the Social Security office Monday turned into 30 minutes of shock, disbelief and irritation for Lapriss Gilbert, who was forced to leave the federal building by a guard who objected to her "lesbian.com" T-shirt.

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.



http://www.dailynews.com/crime/ci_10301518

As you can see, it is a horrendous shirt that exceeds the bounds of what should be allowed in a
civilized nation.:sarcasm:
Her mother is gay and has been an activist for many years, and they have an attorney already.
I hope they win lots. Money is apparently the only thing that bites some people.

[knitter4democracy]

26. What the hell's wrong with that shirt?

I mean, it could've been seriously blatant or raunchy, but that one's just a simple one that you have to look at her breasts to read. Hmm. Methinks there's more wrong with that guard than we know.

[mortfrom]

31. The Guard Is Right!

He wasn't objecting to the idea of lesbianism, per se, but rather to the spelling: lesbien.com. What is she, some kind of Frenchy Surrender Monkey Lesbien? No, he would have allowed a good American Lesbian, but as a homeland security guy, he just couldn't abide that foreign thing.

[valerief]

27. Amazing. We're back in the USSR, kiddies. nt

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

72. I can't believe that is the shirt!

That guard(?) was really doing his job..

If he didn't like it then why didn't he offer her some duct tape?

[HopeHoops]

19. Wait, isn't bin Laden a lesbian?

[TechBear_Seattle]

40. No, he's a Saudimite n/t

[GoddessOfGuinness]

87. DUzy alert

If we ever get the DUzy's back...
:rofl::rofl::rofl:

[lightningandsnow]

20. What, did they think they would catch the gay?

[Eric J in MN]

22. Instead of the government hiring its own security guards with proper training,

...they subcontracted.

[Neecy]

28. The AP is really fucked up

A resource website is suddenly 'promoting lesbianism'?

Gee, from reading that first sentence I thought her shirt was really radical and, you know, gay agenda-y. Like, gimme your kids and I'll turn them gay.

But lesbian.com? Give me a fucking break. I guess our mere existence now is reason to believe that we 'promote lesbianism'.

Newsflash - if you aren't a lesbian, I don't want to date you. Okay?

[jberryhill]

64. "a T-shirt promoting lesbianism"

I wondered about that line too.

I didn't realize there were promotions - "Join Now And Get %25 Off For Three Months"

[RedLetterRev]

65. Damn

How many before you get the toaster?

[KansDem]

29. Kudos to the guard!

He can read!...:sarcasm:

I find this statement particularly illuminating...
Gilbert said the guard cited a document, the Rules and Regulations Governing Conduct on Federal Property, as proof he had jurisdiction over her clothing. The document does not address what type of clothing is allowed in federal buildings.

So now we have store-cops citing non-existing regulations in enforcing their personal preferences?

on edit: Maybe he used a "faith-based" regulation?

[kestrel91316]

30. Rent-a-fascist and his security company employers AND

DHS need to be sued. EOM.

[YOY]

32. I wonder if this shirt would offend the guy:

http://www.cafepress.com/burntees.28091852

If worn by a really sweaty obese man...

[nadine_mn]

35. Bet ya the guard would have no problem w/ a Hooters t-shirt. nt

[Lucky 13]

36. I would have liked to see them try to remove me.

Fascist bastards. I hope she brings a lawsuit.... a big one.

[CubicleGuy]

50. My question is: is the security guy willing to give up his life over this?

Imagine if this were still a country where people could wear a loaded firearm anywhere they wanted, even in the Capitol building.

The guard starts to arrest the person wearing the "offensive" t-shirt, and she pulls out her gun, points it at the security guard's head and says to the guard, "Is this really worth dying over?"

So long as the guard (who I presume totes a gun) is able to have more weapons than the average person, injustice will prevail. Laws will be passed that will allow gun-toting Feds to get away with stuff they shouldn't be allowed to get away with. But as soon as they're evenly matched, and there's a possibility that the guard might actually have to bite the big one just to attempt to enforce a completely unjust law or rule (or, as seems to be the case here, one made up on the spot), that unjust law or rule is most likely going to cease to be enforced.

Her t-shirt was no threat to the security of this nation, and this security guard needs to be fired because he or she sees threats where they don't exist (kind of like the President, now that I think about it).

So, after we fire the security guard, we need to fire the President as well.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

37. I smell "lawsuit,"

and it's a lovely scent.

When I was regularly deluging the FBI with FOIA requests (which didn't take as long back then as they do now), I went to FBI headquarters daily, wearing the same thing every day: my Mickey Mouse t-shirt. Just so they knew what I thought of them.

No one ever said a word.

Of course, as everyone knows, Mickey's straight .....................................

[Orrex]

39. Maybe if she'd been wearing TWO lesbian t-shirts, one on top of the other

Men go apeshit for some hot lesbian-shirt on lesbian-shirt action.


What an asshole.

[JerseygirlCT]

42. Uh, say what???

Oh I hope he's one formerly employed guard!

[ReformedChris]

45. Not Surprising: I'm a Rent-A-Cop and I've seen this kind of stupidity before

The managers of these security companies are usually ex-military types that spew the Neo-Conservative Fascist viewpoint at work. I was in a training class and the companies trainer spent 3 hours spewing out Hannity-Esque talking points (Islam is our threat, democrats are weak) instead of teaching the material. Not only that, he takes the lumber out on liberal and socialist causes. From Castro to universal healthcare; the wing-nut talking points were never ending. I learned nothing outside of how "evil" liberalism and Islam is. The company is going to disown this guy faster than the Repukes will McCain after he loses in November. He will probably lose his license, be sued personally (which happens in the Rent-A-Cop field an awful lot), and the company will settle best they can.

[valerief]

46. I wonder what would happen if someone wore a tee shirt that read

HOMO_SAPIENS.COM.

[Sequoia]

48. I'll wager that guard isn't from California.

Maybe Arkansas, Texas, Florida.

[hunter]

62. Or rural Afghanistan...

:shrug:

[Danieljay]

49. "Promoting Lesbianism" Oh. My. God. What planet, what century, what reality are we living in?

[Danieljay]

51. I'll put money that this guy goes home and spanks himself to lipstick lesbian porn daily...

ya think?

[jdlh8894]

56. Did anybody even ask

Why is she there getting (or applying for ) her son's SS Card?

[blackbart99]

54. BETTER IDEA!!!!

Instead of everyone going to L.A. and storm the place with our Lesbo T-shirts,
Everyone go to their local office wearing the Lesbian.com Logo t-shirt or any Gay shirt with
sayings on them. But do it on the same day. Then we do a class action thing and bang 'em Hard
for the cash. Maybe the ACLU will pick it up and run it up to the Supreme court or something.
I really think I'm on to something here...I'd be glad to organize the Denver stop.:spank:

Well what do you think?:thumbsup:

[Ian David]

55. What if she had been wearing a shirt for Manhunt.com?

McCain Takes $2300 Contribution from Owner of Gay Sex Site Manhunt
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=221x81110

McCain Snubs ManHunt Founder
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6645210

[David__77]

58. Terrible.

I mean, if it portrayed a sex act, perhaps. But this is ridiculous.

[CatholicEdHead]

59. It is a PUBLIC building

I do not care of the guard was a hired private contractor (god I hate that term), but the building is public, so the public can use it. There is no excuse to kick her out.

[hunter]

61. I can't imagine how this t-shirt would stand out at the Van Nuys Social Security Office.

Which Fundamentalist Hell did Homeland Security dredge this guy up from?

[opihimoimoi]

63. Get a good Lawyer and sue the SOB and his Company...FREE SPEECH

[No Elephants]

67. Exactly.

[damntexdem]

66. But was the lesbian Tshirt actually making out with another Tshirt?

I know that Tshirts do tend to neck.

She should have asked whether she was supposed to take the Tshirt off to wait for the card.

Well, the Paragon guard was hardly a paragon. But the guard shouldn't be fired -- he should have to go to work wearing a lesbian.com Tshirt.

[Michigan Soldier]

68. I work in and out of federal buildings

And there is usually a dress code. Anything divisive like that shirt is usually not allowed. The same would not be allowed (I assume) if a guy was wearing a shirt saying that "homosexuality is a mental disorder that prevents a human from being attracted to the opposite sex". That would also not be allowed.

I think everyone should do what they want in their own house. It shouldn't have to be displayed on a t-shirt.

[ret5hd]

69. DO you speak sanskrit? or are you a sailor?

The dead walk among us!!

[Aristus]

70. And who defines what "divisive" is? Huh?

If some guy walked into a Federal building wearing a John McCain '08 tee-shirt, I might find that "divisive", but would that make it okay for me to complain, or to throw the guy out?

[LostinVA]

77. Exactly

[Bluebear]

90. "I am a father, husbamd, Soldier, Brother, son' says the profile

Thank goodness he's not a divisive lesbian.

[knitter4democracy]

75. Welcome to DU!

:hi: There are lots of us Michiganders here. Welcome!

[LostinVA]

76. How is that shirt "divisive?"

It could only be divisive to a Freeper.

Your agenda is showing and it's not flattering.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

79. But she's not a worker

She's a private citizen using the building and the services offered to her. I don't think a dress code should apply to a visitor.

I agree that if someone walked in with a shirt saying "Marriage is a man and a woman", you'd probably have folks here cheering that on if they were kicked out. But that wouldn't be right either.

[JerseygirlCT]

80. There's nothing divisive about it - unless you want to

make someone's innate sexual orientation - like say, their race or eye color - divisive.

You're just spouting nonsense.

[jberryhill]

82. Working there and being part of the public are two different things

This is black-letter law:

In 1971, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that the mere public display of fuck is protected under the First and Fourteenth Amendments and cannot be made a criminal offense. In 1968, Paul Robert Cohen had been convicted of "disturbing the peace" for wearing a jacket with "FUCK THE DRAFT" on it (in reference to conscription in the Vietnam War). The conviction was upheld by the Court of Appeals and overturned by the Supreme Court. Cohen v. California, 403 U.S. 15 (1971).

He was wearing that jacket in the LA County Courthouse.

Government services are "come as you are".

[Pastiche423]

84. Why is that shirt divisive?

[Bluebear]

89. Why is that shirt "divisive", there, soldier?

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

78. Hats off to the guard who escorted her back into the building and to the front of the line

Did the right thing, and likely saved his company's ass from a lawsuit because of this right-wing thug.

[jberryhill]

83. It's a shame that most of the commentary is on the idiot instead of the other guy...

Noted that as well. The story is about one idiot. It's a good thing that there was a much wiser guard there.

There's no lawsuit here because of him.

[kwenu]

85. This just sounds like a nutty rent a cop acting insanely on his own.

[Vinnie From Indy]

86. A lesbian T-Shirt?

Seeing them tangled up in the dryer, I always thought they were bisexual. Who knew?

[Skittles]

91. but if she had sported, "I'd rather be waterboarding" she'd get a pass

oh yes