National
DNC 2012: First lady urges LGBT supporters to step up campaign efforts
Michelle Obama speaks at HRC, Victory Fund luncheon

First lady Michelle Obama addresses the Democratic National Convention (Blade file photo by Michael Key)
First lady Michelle Obama encouraged LGBT supporters on Wednesday to do all they can — even packing up to travel to battleground states — to get friends to go to the polls on Election Day to help her husband in the increasingly tight race for the White House.
Michelle Obama spoke to LGBT attendees of the Democratic National Convention at a luncheon hosted by the Human Rights Campaign and the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund at the Marriott City Center. According to her prepared remarks, she warned the 2012 presidential election will be “even closer” than the previous one.
“And quite frankly, all of these elections are close,” Michelle Obama said. “Since I have been an adult paying attention to this stuff, they’re always close. But in the end, this election, like many, could come down to that last few thousand votes in a single battleground state.”
The first lady recalled that in 2008 her husband won Florida by 236,000 votes — which she said broke down to 36 votes per precinct — and North Carolina by 14,000 votes — which said broke down to five votes per precinct.
Warning attendees at the luncheon that they don’t want to wake up the day after the election wondering if they could have done more, Michelle Obama encouraged them to travel to battleground states to help in the presidential race and to remind friends to donate and go to the polls.
The first lady called on attendees to find 36 votes that would match the margin of victory for each of the Florida precincts in 2008, then “get five more, and then get five more, and again and again” until Election Day.
“If you do not live in a battleground state, get to one,” Michelle Obama said. “Get your suitcase, pack it up, get a car, do something, find that neighbor — get to a battleground state. If you can afford it, write a check — and if you haven’t maxed out, max out. Max out.”
Michelle Obama didn’t devote a large portion of her speech to convincing the LGBT crowd why her husband deserved their support. But she did tick off a few accomplishments: such as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal, refusing to defend the Defense of Marriage Act and “speaking out for the rights of all Americans to be able to do what Barack and I did and marry the love of our lives.”
“And that’s why all of you are here today, because you know that all of that and so much more is at stake in this election,” Michelle Obama said. “We can’t take anything for granted because it’s all still on the line. And I know you’re here today because you believe, like I believe, that our president, my husband, he’s done an extraordinary job.”
The first lady also invoked her label as “mom-in-chief” — which she called herself during her speech the previous night on the floor of the Democratic convention. After saying she’s putting on her “serious-first-lady face,” an audience member said it was, “Your mom face.” Michelle Obama replied, “My mom face, that’s right. That’s it. You heard me, Sasha.”
According to pool reports, about 600 people attended the event, including notables such as Democratic National Committee Treasurer Andy Tobias, Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, lesbian New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force and U.S. House candidate Mark Pocan.
Prior to the first lady’s remarks, Democratic National Convention Chair and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa took the stage to deliver remarks as part of the program, saying he’s proud the Democratic platform supports “every American’s right for the freedom to marry.”
Introducing Michelle Obama was Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin, who praised Michelle Obama for “her clear and much-needed message to policymakers and youth alike that bullying is not something that we have to accept in this country.”
Jeremy Hooper, editor of the gay blog “Good as You,” was among those in attendance at the luncheon and told the Washington Blade afterward he was struck by four words Michelle Obama said after talking about her husband’s LGBT accomplishments and commitment to equality: “And he always will.”
“I think that’s notable, considering where the president was versus where he now is,” Hooper said. “The message used to be ‘stick with me and I might get to where you want me to be.’ Now the message is that this administration is with us without fail or end date.”
Arizona
Shooting outside gay bar in Ariz. leaves three dead
Tucson police investigating double murder-suicide as a hate crime
Three people were fatally shot outside a gay bar in Tucson, Ariz., early Monday morning, about a mile from the city’s nightlife district.
Police have said the shooting, which took place in the parking lot of Venture-N bar at 1239 N. 6th Ave., was likely a hate crime and a double murder-suicide following a verbal altercation.
The suspect, Ousman Ceesay, allegedly shot Vincent Anthony Siqueiros and Cameron Davis Capara while they were outside the club around 12:30 a.m. Monday.
Reports show Capara and Siqueiros were pronounced dead at the scene. Ceesay died after being taken to a local hospital with gunshot wounds.
Police have also said that Ceesay was carrying a list of LGBTQ businesses at the time of the shooting.
Arizona Public Media has said police are investigating the case as a hate crime because the suspect was carrying a note containing the names of multiple LGBTQ-associated businesses.
“I am deeply saddened that another senseless loss of life has happened in our community,” Tucson Police Chief Monica Prieto said in a statement. “Bias-based crimes are especially heinous and have no place in our community.”
According to Prieto, there is no imminent threat to the community, and the Tucson Police Department is working to provide extra protection to various LGBTQ businesses across town.
Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva, who represents the area, issued a statement condemning the act of violence, which appears to have been at least in part motivated by homophobia.
“I am disgusted and deeply saddened to learn of a targeted act of hate and the cold-blooded murder of two members of our LGBTQIA+ community, Vincent Siqueiros and Cameron Capara, at the Venture-N bar in Tucson last night. This horrific attack is a painful reminder that even in welcoming communities like Tucson, hate and violence against the LGBTQIA+ community still exist.”
“When that hate is combined with easy access to firearms, the consequences can be deadly. I am sick and tired of Congress refusing to lift a finger to protect our communities while, every day, dozens of people are shot and killed across the country. It does not have to be this way. The House of Representatives is returning to session this week, and our first action should be passing common-sense gun safety reforms that we know can save lives.”
Other federal lawmakers also condemned the shooting.
The Congressional Equality Caucus, which is made up of federal legislators advancing LGBTQ interests, issued a statement after news broke.
“Our hearts are with the friends and loved ones of the victims of this devastating attack outside a Tucson gay bar and with the Tucson LGBTQI+ community,” it said on X. “No one should fear violence because of who they are — and we’re going to continue fighting to build a world where no one does.”
The Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBTQ organization in the country, released a statement following the shooting.
“We are heartbroken by the loss of Vincent Anthony Siqueiros and Cameron Davis Capara and our hearts are with their families, loved ones, and the entire Tucson LGBTQ+ community. Once again, we are reminded that gun violence robs people of their lives, destroys families, and devastates communities.”
A candlelight vigil honoring the victims is planned for Sept. 2 at 6:30 p.m. at Catalina Park in North Tucson.
Congress
HRC president campaigns for Chris Pappas in NH
Gay congressman running to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen
Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson on Sunday campaigned for U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) in New Hampshire.
Robinson traveled to Manchester, the state’s largest city, nine days before the Sept. 8 primary that will determine who will vie for retiring U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.)’s seat.
We’re hitting the pavement across New Hampshire to fight for a freer, fairer future for everyone.
Glad to have Human Rights Campaign President @KelleyJRobinson join us for a canvass launch in Manchester today. pic.twitter.com/XWCEaQxy4o
— Chris Pappas (@ChrisPappasNH) August 30, 2026
Former U.S. Sen. John E. Sununu, who represented New Hampshire in the U.S. Senate from 2003-2009, will face off against former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, who represented Massachusetts in the U.S. Senate from 2010-2013, in the Republican primary.
Karishma Manzur is among the Democrats challenging Pappas.
A poll the University of New Hampshire Survey Center released on Aug. 26 shows Sununu is ahead of Brown. The same survey shows Pappas ahead of Manzur and his other Democratic challengers.
The UNH Survey Center poll shows Sununu ahead of Pappas by a 45-43 percent margin if they were to face off in the general election. The margin of error is +/-2.1 percent.
Pappas would become the first openly gay man elected to the U.S. Senate if he were to win in November.
National
Milo Yiannopoulos deported to UK
ICE arrested far-right provocateur in New Orleans on Thursday
Editor’s note: The Department of Homeland Security on Saturday said Milo Yiannopoulos has been deported to the U.K.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Thursday arrested far-right provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos.
A DHS spokesperson in a statement sent to the Washington Blade said ICE arrested Yiannopoulos, who they described as “an illegal alien from the United Kingdom,” at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.
The DHS spokesperson said Yiannopoulos “legally entered the country” in New York on May 14, 2019.
“He chose to overstay his welcome in violation of our nation’s laws,” said the spokesperson.
The DHS spokesperson said an immigration judge on July 22 “issued a final order of removal” for Yiannopoulos “after failing to show up for his immigration hearing.” The Times-Picayune newspaper in New Orleans on Friday reported Yiannopoulos is being held at an ICE detention center in Alexandria, La., which is about 200 miles northwest of the Crescent City.
“He will remain in ICE custody pending removal,” said the DHS spokesperson.
Yiannopoulos has, among other things, repeatedly targeted transgender people and Muslims.
The American Conservative Union, which organizes the annual Conversative Political Action Conference, in 2017 disinvited Yiannopoulos from speaking at that year’s CPAC after a video in which he appeared to condone sex between adults and underage boys emerged. Yiannopoulos subsequently resigned from Breitbart News, a far-right news website, where he had been a senior editor.
Yiannopoulos later that year married his boyfriend in Hawaii. The far-right provocateur in 2021 claimed he was an “ex-gay.”
The Australian government in 2019 banned Yiannopoulos from entering the country “on character grounds.” Yiannopoulos was also banned from Facebook, Twitter (now X), and other social media platforms.

The Times-Picayune reported Yiannopoulos “most recently worked for” Ye, formerly known as Kanye West.
The controversial rapper is scheduled to perform in New Orleans on Friday.
Laura Loomer, a far-right conspiracy theorist who is close to President Donald Trump, has called for Yiannopoulos’s deportation. Loomer on Friday wrote on X that she “reported him to ICE and the FBI” after he “called for me to be assassinated.”
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