I have a new Lutron tamper resistant GFCI in the kitchen. I see the little shutters on the left 'hole' of both the upper and lower recept. How hard do I push a plu into these to release them or is there some trick... the plug doesn't seem to want to go and I don't want to push too hard.

You have to put even pressure on both slots. Some devices you have to push pretty hard.

Have to push evenly and hard on both top prongs.