‘Glitterati’ explain motives behind Bachmann stunt

Rep. Michele Bachmann is the third presidential candidate to be “glitter bombed” by activists, suggesting that such actions are congealing into a full-fledged campaign to toss glitter at anti-LGBT politicians. Like Tim Pawlenty and Newt Gingrich before her, Bachmann was subjected to showers of glitter Saturday because of her statements about LGBT people and for her support of controversial anti-gay preacher Bradlee Dean.

“‘Glittering’ is a fun, safe way to draw attention to some very serious issues,” said Rachel E.B. Lang, a Minneapolis attorney who tossed a handful of glitter on Bachmann at the RightOnline conference on Saturday. “Young people deserve the right to feel safe and respected, and have their families reflected at school. And I deserve the right to see my lesbian mom get married one day! I’m not willing to be silent about the vicious attacks on families like ours.”

Lang said it was Bachmann’s connection to Bradlee Dean that prompted the glittering. “My mom is a Lutheran minister and has taught me the values of love and compassion that I so desperately wish Michele Bachmann and Bradlee Dean would cherish too,” she said in an email Saturday.

Footage of Bachmann being glittered:

GetEQUAL, an advocacy group that supports direct action to achieve LGBT equality, took credit for the action and has set up a “gliteratti” movement, urging more events like Saturdays to draw attention to anti-LGBT politicians.

“Glitter bombing” got its start last month when Nick Espinosa threw glitter on Newt Gingrich at an event hosted by the Minnesota Family Council, a group that opposes LGBT rights and that has compared being gay to engaging in pedophilia and bestiality. Last week, Tim Pawlenty was showered with pink glitter at a San Francisco book signing because of his stances against LGBT rights and abortion rights.

Espinosa and Lang spoke about their glitter-bombing at Netroots Nation on Saturday.

Mike Huckabee, a former presidential candidate who opposes LGBT rights, called for glitter throwers to be arrested in an interview over the weekend.

“The people ought to be arrested who did that. That’s an assault,” Huckabee said. “It’s one thing to yell at a candidate, but you never put your hands on him, you don’t touch him. You’ve got to draw the line.”