This story has been updated to include comments from GALAEI Executive Director Nikki Lopez and OUTMuslim Founder/Director Sahar AliDeen.
Chants of “we are the people,” “black lives matter” and “queer lives matter” could be heard from Thomas Paine Plaza Thursday afternoon, as President Donald Trump visited the Republican Congressional Retreat blocks away to deliver a speech to the GOP about his political agenda.
Thousands of protesters had their voices heard at “Resistance in Philly: Fighting for our Lives.” One Pennsylvania, a nonprofit organization, hosted the event, which featured speakers from several LGBT and LGBT-friendly organizations.
Shani Akilah, creator and co-founder of the Black and Brown Workers Collective, was among the speakers at the demonstration. They said, “We cannot talk about HIV without talking about white supremacy.”
“We need to listen to our intuition,” Akilah added. “This is the time for battle.”
Akilah repeated the word “battle” three times as the crowd responded with cheers.
Following Akilah’s speech, Jose DeMarco led the group with the chant ACT UP Philadelphia has been using for more than 20 years.
“Act up. Fight back. Fight AIDS,” the crowd chanted with DeMarco.
DeMarco interjected occasionally with, “Fight Trump” during the chants.
Sefan Hoimes, 29, said since he is a minority, “Trump doesn’t care for people like me.” His sign read, “Proud disabled transgender immigrant American” written in different colors and all capital letters.
“I am here because I am a transgender man and we have terror coming into our backyard,” Hoimes said. “[Trump] has already stated how he wants to take away healthcare when we all need it in the trans community.”
Joanna Segal and Alyssa Shilliday, who both identify as pansexual, were decked out in rainbow scarfs during the demonstration. Segal, 32, said she is worried for the future of same-sex marriage and Planned Parenthood.
“We had really careful tenuous steps that we’ve been making recently and it seems fragile and easy to crush,” Segal said.
Shilliday, 32, said she is concerned about what Trump’s “outspoken and inappropriate behavior” could imply for others.
“He’s allowing that cab driver to not pick me up when I’m with my girlfriend,” Shilliday said. “He’s allowing that Uber driver to say something nasty to me. He’s allowing that bartender to give me a side-eye when I’m sitting at the bar with my girlfriend. Having that behavior from a prestigious position is making it OK to project it onto us. That’s what scares me.”
Many allies were also in attendance at the demonstration.
Diana Hunt, 59, said her main reason for participating in the demonstration is because of the Black Lives Matter movement. She said she objects to the disproportionate incarceration rates of people of color, and mentioned that there needs to be “separation of church and state” when it comes to LGBT people.
“I’m one of the privileged that only has a little bit of fears but I’m afraid for everybody else too,” said Hunt, who identifies as straight and white.
Noelle Egan, 39, had a sign with, “This middle class white lady rejects your fascist bullshit” written on one side while the other side stated, “Black lives, trans lives, indigenous lives matter. Dismantle white supremacy.”
“I am a white lady,” Egan said. “I recognize the privileges that come along with that and also recognize how much responsibility that offers me to spread the word about how other people’s rights are being suppressed and I consider it my responsibility to help bring up others and be an ally.”
After about an hour-and-a-half at Thomas Paine Plaza, the protestors marched in formation around City Hall and down Market Street toward 13th Street, joining another anti-Trump protest. Police blockades preventing the demonstrators from getting any closer to the Loews Hotel at 12th and Market, where the Republican event is being held.
On Jan. 25, at least 1,000 demonstrators gathered for the Queer Rage(r): Guerilla Dance Party, where LGBT people and allies had a party outside of the Loews Hotel where Trump was staying. Additionally, the Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club will host a March Against Discrimination on Thursday.
GALAEI, a queer Latin@ social justice nonprofit organization, will also be coordinating future efforts toward fighting the Trump administration. Executive Director Nikki Lopez said the organization will be hosting workshops relating to knowing your rights as well as self-defense courses, which will be updated on their Facebook profile page, Galaei Philly. She also encourages people to email the organization at [email protected] and the staff can assist individuals looking for ways to join the fight.
Lopez said GALAEI will take to the streets whenever they can.
“GALAEI is unapologetically saying that we are here and we are going to resist,” Lopez said. “This is what our fight and resistance looks like.”
OUTMuslim, an organization dedicated to creating safe spaces for LGBT Muslims, will not necessarily be focusing on fighting the Trump administration but the group will discuss Trump’s recent executive order at a Feb. 12 meeting. The executive order, Protecting The Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into The United States banned immigrants and refugees from several Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.
Interested attendees for future meetings can message page moderators on OutMuslim’s Facebook pages, OUTMuslim and Haven: The Inclusive Muslim Union of Philadelphia, for information on times and locations.
OUTMuslim founder and director Sahar AliDeen said he canceled a trip to Pakistan to attend his grandmother’s funeral because he was unsure of what the political climate would be upon his return. While AliDeen is an American citizen, he has traveled to several countries listed under Trump’s executive order and said he felt his travel history would put him in danger. He mentioned the need for a space space for LGBT Muslims.
“[People] need a safe space to go to talk to other Muslims who are experiencing these things,” AliDeen said.