Ayanna Joseph

July 9, 2015
LTA #1
President Obama has had to deal with his fair share of discrimination, becoming the first
African American President. In his second term coming to an end Obama has had more of a no
non-sense approach to people and events. During a recent event for L.G.B.T pride month Obama
set an example with a heckler.
The newspapers blew up about President Obama throwing out a heckler in the White
House during a L.G.B.T event. The New York daily news and the New York Times both had a
different approach but the same description. New York daily news title was 'You're in my
house!' President Obama slams, boots White House heckler whereas the New York Times was
Activist Removed After Heckling Obama at L.G.B.T. Event at White House. The transitivity
model that is used for both articles are the same. The President address the White House and
people watching from around the world about the gay rights in America. The participants was
the audience, but there was one participant that stood out. The heckler would not let the
President speak and for that was addressed individually. The comment about the white house is
his house the circumstances that lead me to believe the president felt disrespected. Calling the
White House his house was not necessary but made the rest of the participants applaud him for
standing up to the heckler.
The audience design for the president for this event did not matter. Obama always has a
way with words and will use causal but informed language when making a speech at the white
house. The audience design was appealing to the audience in the beginning, but once addressed

to the heckler, causal language was used. The New York Times states Shame on you, you
shouldnt be doing this, Youre in my house before having her removed. Whereas the New
York daily news states You're in my house. It's not respectful when you get invited to
somebody's..." and "Shame on ya. You shouldn't be doing this," The daily news used slang words
to describe some words the president was saying.
The accent of the heckler which New York Times discover to be a legal immigrant
wanting the president release L.G.B.T immigrants from jail. Watching the video posted the
heckler had a strong accent that would believe she was not American. Immigration group
NotOneMoreDeportation later identified the heckler as transgender woman Jennicet Gutirrez,
who they say is an undocumented Mexican immigrant. There is no pride in how L.G.B.T.Q.
and transgender immigrants are treated in this country, Ms. Gutirrez said in a statement. If the
president wants to celebrate with us, he should release the L.G.B.T.Q. immigrants locked up in
detention centers immediately. The heckler protest was about the abuse of immigrants belonging
to the L.G.B.T community.
President Obama handled himself in a professional manner. In all situations presidents
get tested by different hecklers every day. I believe Obama made a right decision of making an
example of this particular heckler. I agree with the President, you will respect him in HIS house.

References
Mooney, A. (2011). The language, society and power reader. London: Routledge.
Stack, L. (2015, June 24). Activist Removed After Heckling Obama at L.G.B.T. Event at
White House. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
'You're in my house!' Obama slams White House heckler. (n.d.). Retrieved July 10, 2015,
from http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/house-obama-slams-white-house-hecklerarticle-1.2270274