Kudos to Gabe Aderhold (seen above), a seventeen year old gay student who stood his ground during a speech given by Congresswoman Michele Bachmann on the campaign trail earlier this month.
Aderhold stated that before heckling Michele Bachmann at the Iowa State Fair, his mission was to help educate the representative about how harmful her rhetoric is against gay and lesbians who are also her constituents.
As a state Senator Michele Bachmann also led aggressive efforts to amend the state’s constitution, to prohibit same-sex couples from marrying.
But Aderhold seemed adamant in bringing awareness to gay issues, due to the death of a family friend who committed suicide in 2009 after being bullied. The friend was only 15 years old.
Aderhold expressed that,“It is her responsibility to address social issues in her area, and there have been six suicides in the last year from being bullied in her district,” the student commented to The Des Moines Register -- prior to heckling Michele Bachmann today at the Iowa State Fair.
Bachmann spoke for three minutes at the soapbox today. When she stopped talking Aderhold stood up and shouted: “You treat me like a second-class citizen,” before chanting. “Shame on you!”
Bachmann’s husband Marcus, operates a mental-health clinic in Lake Elmo, Minnesota. He has faced scrutiny for the clinic’s purported efforts to help clients “pray the gay away."
The young activist also made sure to mention Bachmanns' senate efforts, in keeping the ridiculous praying techniques. “You can’t pray the gay away,” he screamed at Marcus Bachmann, who turned away and did not respond.
The congresswoman commented earlier that she would shake hands with people in the audience, but after being heckled she quickly left the area.
Gabe, thank you for standing up not just for yourself but for all LGBT people. You are a hero! Keep up the good work!
2011 LA