Presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg was interrupted by trans activists just as he was being asked his first question during CNN's "Equality Town Hall" in Los Angeles.
The South Bend, Ind. mayor was being asked how he can represent the diverse LGBTQ community when he is only gay and white, when trans activists walked towards the stage and began chanting, "We are dying."
The activists were also carrying the transgender-pride flag.
Moderator Anderson Cooper tried to calm down the protesters, "Yo, guys, chill out. Relax, relax." When they did not leave, Cooper explained how gays and lesbians have stood by people who identified as trans.
"Let me just — let me just point out there is a long and proud tradition in history in the gay and lesbian and transgendered community of protest, and we applaud them for their protest," said Cooper. "And they are absolutely right to be angry and upset at the lack of attention, particularly in the media on the lives of transgendered."
The Humans Rights Campaign has reported at least 19 transgender people have been killed so far in 2019, while 26 transgender people were killed in 2018.