Michelle Obama goes face-to-face with gay rights heckler

First Lady Michelle Obama surprised an audience at a Democratic fundraiser by leaving her lectern to go face-to-face with a heckler who interrupted her speech by shouting about gay rights.

The incident took place at a private home in Washington, DC Tuesday night, reports The Washington Post. During her speech the woman began shouting that President Obama needed to pass an executive order immediately banning discrimination against gays in the workplace.

In the middle of her speech, the First Lady left her lectern and told the woman, “One of the things that I don’t do well is this...Do you understand?” A pool report quoted her as continuing, “Listen to me or you can take the mic, but I’m leaving. You all decide. You have one choice.” That last sentence was not included in the official White House record.

According to The New York Times, the activist was later identified as a member of the gay rights group GetEqual. Co-director Heather Cronk said that the heckler was Ellen Sturtz, one of three GetEqual activists who attended.

The tickets cost between $500 and $1,000. Most of Obama’s speech centered on policies that help children and she did discuss gay rights.