Lesbian.com T-shirt Gets Van Nuys Woman Kicked Out Of Federal Building

[DeSwiss]

T-shirt gets Van Nuys woman kicked out of federal building

The LA Daily News
By Douglas Morino Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 08/26/2008 12:11:15 AM PDT



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.

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. A security guard identified by Lapriss Gilbert as the one who told her to leave declined to comment.

The guard cited the document, The Rules and Regulations Governing Conduct on Federal Property, as proof of his jurisdiction over Gilbert's attire, she said. The document does not specifically address what type of clothing is allowed in federal buildings. After being kicked out of the federal building, Gilbert called her mother, Tanya Gilbert, who calls herself a longtime activist for gay rights. The mother and daughter have had same-sex partners for many years. Tanya Gilbert said she plans to contact her attorney today to file a lawsuit against the Paragon Security Company.

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- With the looming prospect of a lawsuit now hanging over this company's head, this "el stupido" rent-a-cop has probably just lost his job. Which is good, but I'm sure he'll be hired by the AFA, Focus On The Family or some other organization for morons, probably within days.

The weirdest aspect of all this for me though, is I never would have thought that I'd find myself applauding a statement coming from a Homeland Security official...
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DeSwiss


http://www.atheisttoolbox.com/">The Atheist Toolbox

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. When Americans are told what they can and cannot wear,

then we have gone over to a police state. Good for the ladies sticking up for themselves! Bet that security officer is a steady watcher of Hannity, O'Liely, etc. I'm surprised he didn't tell anyone who looked "liberal" that they would be arrested for terrorism!

[DeSwiss]

2. I'm pretty sure.....

...that the prospect of gay Americans finally winning full citizenship rights in CA this November has gotten many homophobic bigots totally on-edge and frothing at the mouth.

- The most ironic part of this article that I found, is the security company's name: "PARAGON."

[readmoreoften]

3. Wait? Arrested for a t-shirt with the word LESBIAN on it?

(Man, I hope my girlfriend takes that "go tell your daddy a dyke beat you up" patch off her leather jacket. That's probably worth the death penalty.)

[Falcon_Lights1916]

4. My Goddess!

When a person has to dress a certain way to enter a Federal building, we are in deep trouble. I'm glad the person at Homeland Security didn't go along with the rent-a-cop. And yeah, I bet the RAC gets hired by some moronic outfit.