How to Handle Anti-LGBTQ Protestors
Mike Doughty, August ‘23 Newsletter
I wanted to talk about this after our Pride Festival where we did have some protesters present, but also had some amazing allies that spent part of their time doing what they could to make sure the rest of the community had a good and safe time at the event. This segment is going to be speaking directly to the allies out there, although like I mentioned in a previous segment, people within the community, especially cis LGBQ+ folks, can and should be allies for each other as well.
If you are at an event and you see protesters, there are a few things that you can do to make sure the people they are targeting are safe. Most of these will involve you being engaged and interacting with a person on some level, but there are also some options for those that need to keep their distance.
The first is to act as a “bodyguard” for the people in the community. This does not mean fighting, but just simply being a human wall, ignoring what the protesters are saying, and focusing on keeping protestors away from whoever you are helping. At our Pride, some of our allies helped the Drag Queens and others cross the street to the library safely. Physically using your body to make space and getting between people can be a great way to make sure that the people around you have that room to feel safe, or at least FEEL safer than they would without you there. This is especially easy for folks who naturally appear “big and intimidating,” even if they would never actually harm anyone. The goal of the bodyguard is to make the protesters think twice before invading space or getting too close.
Similar to being a bodyguard, you can also be a disrupter. Some protesters will try to record what they are saying to post online, or will repeatedly spout homophobic/transphobic phrases. To counter this, you can block their camera angles, wave flags or stand in front of their signs, sing and shout over the noise they are making, or play music to drown them out. Most protesters are looking for attention and disrupting the attention they are able to get, either in person or online, can deflate their energy and deny them the attention they’re looking for. Some may also feel comfortable counter-arguing with the protesters, but it’s important to know that most protestors are not willing to change their minds, and debating them can just leave you feeling frustrated. It’s good to share counterpoints with any bystanders who may be listening, but most protestors just want to argue in circles to waste your time. The more you disrupt them, the less they are able to get their message out.
The third and most passive path is to be a constant observer. Have your eyes scanning where the protesters are moving to, see if they are trying to cause trouble, or if someone is getting cornered by them. When you see something, you can either intervene or find the event coordinators to let them know. There is power and safety in numbers, so being able to cut in or get someone to help interrupt a protester who has someone cornered can be a much better tactic than going in solo. We all can only see so much, so you may be the first or only person to notice an incident. When it comes to supporting and protecting vulnerable communities, it’s much better to say something if you see something, even if it turns out to be nothing.
If you are an ally, or if you have the privilege to protect others within the community, keep these in mind the next time you are at an LGBTQ-focused event. See who you can talk to ahead of time to lend your support for an event, and encourage friends to come with you. Our community is stronger than the hate, and the allies and community members that help protect us are proof of that.