Four gay rights activists were arrested in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office Thursday when they refused to leave.

The individuals were part of a sit-in organized by Get Equal, a new activist group that seems to be taking a harder line against Democrats than leading gay rights groups like Human Rights Campaign.

The group wants Pelosi to bring the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (HR 3017 ), which would ban workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation, up for a vote.

They were charged with unlawful entry into Pelosi's office when they wouldn't leave after the office had closed, Kimberly Schneider of Capitol Police said.

It's a misdemeanor crime, so unless the individuals had outstanding warrants, they should have been released shortly after the 7:30 p.m. arrest, the spokeswoman added.

Those arrests came hours after three others were arrested for handcuffing themselves to the White House fence . Dan Choi and Jim Pietrangelo, military members who are gay, were among those who were part of that action.

They were drawing attention to President Obama's slow action on repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell. The President and many leading Democrats have said they want to repeal the military law on gay service, but it remains intact.

Both protests were planned by Get Equal.

-- Ambreen Ali, Congress.org