At a book signing tour stop in San
Francisco on Thursday, two female activists dumped pink glitter and
confetti on former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, POLITICO.COM
reported.
“Tim Pawlenty, where is your courage
to stand? Stand for reproductive rights! Stand for gay rights!”
Nancy Mancias and Chelsea Byers of CODEPINK shouted as they assailed
the presidential hopeful, who was seated behind a table signing
copies of his book Courage To Stand.
The women continued to yell, “This is
San Francisco. Home of gay hero Harvey Milk. Where is your courage
to stand for gay rights and reproductive rights!” as an officer
quickly escorted them off the premises. (The video is embedded in
the right panel of this page.)
“This is the home of Harvey Milk,”
Medea Benjamin, founder of CODEPINK, said. “This is where people
flock around the country to be able to live freely and express
themselves as gay and lesbian people. It’s the place where we
respect each other and celebrate diversity and to have Tim Pawlenty
be there spewing what we consider homophobic attitudes and non
inclusive policies in opposition to gay marriage is an affront to
people in the Bay area and around the country who believe in equal
rights for all.”
The incident was similar to Nick
Espinosa's 'gay' glittering of Newt Gingrich last month in
Minneapolis, Pawlenty's home state.
During a GOP presidential debate on
Monday, Gingrich
and Pawlenty reiterated their support for a constitutional amendment
banning gay marriage.