In recent years, it’s become easy to forget that Pride isn’t just a fixture of our yearly calendars, a celebration we all expected to come around again. State legislatures are being bombarded by anti-trans bills, aggression towards queer folks is rising, and Pride celebrations feel more precarious than ever before.
Yet Pride itself certainly isn’t what it used to be, either. Many of us have become accustomed to the influx of rainbow flags, corporate Pride merchandise, queer-themed advertisements, and other signs of rainbow washing that have flooded cities across the country every June. If anything, this year has demonstrated just how hollow and fickle that façade was, as the culture wars have pushed even “progressive” companies like Starbucks and Target into scrapping or downsizing their yearly Pride celebrations. And it hasn’t stopped with corporate Pride cancellations; we’ve seen drag performers demonized and harassed, violent protests at elementary schools, and churches pressured into canceling Pride masses.
If anything, it’s a reminder that palatable, mainstream versions of Pride won’t save us. Pride’s origins — as a riot, a protest, a demand for better, and a call for justice — will. Pride is a refusal to submit to oppression. Pride is loudly Black, brown, trans, and more. It’s not a place for corporate exploitation, and it doesn’t need to be. Our power has always lied in ourselves and in each other.
In the face of rising anti-LGBTQ+ hatred, returning to Pride’s roots as a protest is essential. And in cities from New York City to Chicago to San Francisco, people are doing just that. Yet even as queer and trans people take up calls to take to the streets, it’s important to acknowledge that protests are powerful precisely because they are disruptive, and that can make them dangerous.
If you want to protest this Pride, it’s important to know how to do so safely and effectively. Below, we asked two veteran organizers — Ianne Fields Stewart, an organizer, writer, and actress, and Ora Wise, a food justice advocate and community media producer — to share tips on how to best prepare for and engage with queer protests. From what to bring to how to prioritize communal care, here are six tips on how to safely take a stand.
Remember that supporting a protest starts well before it begins and ends after it’s over
Effective, safe protesting requires preparation and organization, from gathering supplies to thinking through the best role you can play in community demonstrations. The aftermath of a protest requires just as much care, whether that means taking care of your fellow protestors’ physical health or potential jail support if police presence becomes an issue. Planning as far ahead as possible and for every possible scenario is crucial.
Before you arrive at a protest, think about everything you’ll need. Consult lists of essential items to bring to a protest, such as food or water. Consider what you’ll do if you’re injured or arrested: Do you have crucial medical conditions you’d need addressed if you get hurt? Are there people who know where you are and are looking out for you? The more you can plan for the unknown, the safer and better prepared you’ll be should the worst happen.
Show up for the most vulnerable community members
When we think about how to protest safely, we have to think on a holistic and communal level, not just individually. It’s important to consider how we can keep all protestors safe, including those at varying levels of vulnerability.
To do so, we must understand our own positionality in our community and how we should show up for others. This can look like white folks forming barriers around Black protesters, cis people disrupting engagement between police and trans folks, or just making sure certain community members make it home. Understanding the nuances of how oppression manifests as violence against certain groups allows us to best protect each other.
During a protest, “pay close attention to the needs and comforts of those around you, share what you have, and be patient,” Wise tells Them. “Remember that the oppressive forces that we’re protesting have taken their toll on us, and sometimes people's behavior is hurtful or frustrating, but we can de-escalate and respond with compassion.”
“The most important way to show up to a protest is to exist in deep and well-rooted community with folks society has made to be the most vulnerable,” Fields Stewart says. To best do this, we need to talk to those who are most vulnerable and respond to the needs they articulate. As Fields Stewart puts it, “Ask questions and be prepared for answers.”
Bring water, friends, and important phone numbers
Staying hydrated is one of the biggest pieces of advice organizers give. The only way we can continue to protest and be present is if we manage our health. Heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and dehydration are easy to forget about until we’ve been outside for hours and they’re already upon us. Similarly, having friends present at protests allows us to look out for each other; it can feel trivial until we absolutely need support, care, or someone to have our backs. Protests can be unpredictable.
Finally, Fields Stewart suggests writing important phone numbers on your arm with a permanent marker. Every protest and rally is different, and there may be situations where we lose our phones or carrying a phone with location services isn’t safe. Having key numbers written on you allows you to be able to reach necessary people at a moment’s notice, no matter the context. That goes a long way when preparing to protest.
Leave your ego and other fragile items at home
Fields Stewart says that you should consider leaving dangly earrings and anything else that may get caught or broken at home. Whatever you wear or bring, you make sure you don’t mind it being scuffed, damaged, or broken.
That goes for your psyche, too. Protests can challenge our perception of ourselves and the world. They can bring about new emotions, from anger to pain, and they can create entirely new understandings of various communities. Fields Stewart explains that we must show up “ready to be angry, ready to be sad, ready to take action.” Our egos can get in the way of experiencing those emotions and making room for the actions that come with them. They can also make us resistant to accountability and the cries of our communities, so leave your ego before you make it to the picket line.
“Protesting is both about gaining access to your full power as an individual and being a part of a collective. You are valued and it is not about you,” as Wise puts it.
Don’t engage with police or vigilantes
The best way to engage with police is not to engage with them at all. Many protests will have legally trained professionals on the ground that you should look to interact with police in your place. If you are forced to interact with police, prioritize your safety at all costs. Police are always dangerous, and they are also unavoidable at many protests.
There is little we can do to avoid them when we’re attending protests that may include police surveillance. Still, we should try to do what we can to minimize risk as much as possible. Fields Stewart gives tips like narrating what is happening loudly and keeping your hands free of objects when faced with police interaction. Reading up on your rights and knowing what you are allowed to do — and what you can refuse — is also extremely important before a protest.
Humanize and support your organizers
Organizers and the preparation they do are what allows many of us to participate in safe protests. Their strength and importance can make it easy to place them on a pedestal, but it is crucial we do not.
“Remember that organizers are humans first and foremost,” Fields Stewart says. “They cannot be perfect.”
They note that organizers need safe spaces to feel taken in by the community. This support allows them to do what they do best, even better and supports all of our safety.
The more we genuinely engage with and learn from those who are doing the work, the more we are able to protect ourselves and others. Ultimately, we’re preparing for a marathon, making our communal support that much more important in allowing us to remain resilient.
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