Council President: ‘I’m on a hunger strike!’

Council President Charles Pugh has stopped eating – and you can watch it live.

“I’m on a hunger strike!” he declared on his Facebook page this afternoon.

The city’s first openly gay councilman is joining others statewide on a one-day hunger strike to call attention to the inequalities facing gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transexuals. And if you’re afraid he might sneak a bite to eat, no worries. A camera is providing a live video feed of the councilman in a living room, hanging out with friends and listening to music.  You can watch and listen to him all day.

Wearing a snug orange shirt shortly after noon, Pugh was sitting on a blue recliner, tapping his bare feet to some groovy tunes as two friends lounged on a sofa with a computer and newspaper.

“I’m going without for food 24 hours as a participant in the statewide Hungry4Equality campaign, to show support for our LGBT community,” Pugh wrote. “Did you know that in Michigan, it’s still legal to be fired if you are gay or transgender (or perceived to be so)? LGBT couples cannot get married or jointly adopt, cannot receive partner benefits if they are a public employee, and can be denied public housing and accommodations. The 100-day Hungry4Equality campaign is a vehicle to raise awareness of these persistent inequalities.”

  charles pugh, Council President, detroit, Gay, Hunger strike, Hungry4Equality, LGBT, michigan, steve, video

Steve Neavling

Steve Neavling lives and works in Detroit as an investigative journalist. His stories have uncovered corruption, led to arrests and reforms and prompted FBI investigations.

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