WeHo Easter march targets Tennessee drag ban

Hoang said there have been reports of some schools enacting the tactic of the bill even though it is not likely to advance. “I promise you this,” he said, “we will kill that bill!”

“And when we do,” he added “we’ll send a message to trans kids everywhere.”

Lambda Legal Western Regional Director Los Angeles Shedrick O. Davis III and his partner Barry Ward were among the many notables attending the rally and likely the only ones donning beautiful blue Easter bonnets. Davis expressed concern that although Disney was fighting back in Florida against the “Don’t Say Gay” bills;

“Our corporate allies are perhaps more skittish but we have to push back on that and give them the backbone and spine to continue to do what’s right by their employees, their customers and our community as a whole. Because financial power can translate into political power. Many state’s that could care less about our individual rights do care about the dollar,” he said.

Davis gave the example of the corporate backlash in North Carolina to the bathroom bills. “Oddly enough, it was the right who wanted corporations to be considered individuals who should be able to contribute as much money (to politics and causes) as they want, they are people too, suggesting that if our allied corporations resist the bills it would present problems for politics. If they want to come out in support of the LGBTQ community, they certainly have the right to do that.”

Barry Ward said his chief reason for attending today, aside from supporting his partner’s work, is his concern that the right wants to make our community second class citizens. “What’s happened in our politics in the last number years is that it’s been ok to be intolerant. We have a younger generation who aren’t going to go back into the closet,” he said. “We have to make sure that LGBTQ kids in schools and the gay/straight alliances and tolerant churches are preserved to support them.”

Jazzmun Nichcala Crayton, Associate Director of the Asian Pacific AIDS Intervention Team, focused on the spirituality of drag, reading a poem she wrote for today’s event. Here’s a portion:

“I am desiring radical change and curiosity in the hearts and minds of folks who don’t believe in Drag Queen Magic.

“I am here to remind you to stay committed to practicing non-judgment, compassion, service, authenticity and kindness, ALL with the intention of blessing the world through your loving demonstration. This was told to me by the Inspire Spiritual Community.

“Drag Queen

Rejoice in knowing that every time and everywhere you show up, you bring a sense of humor, wonder and excitement. You remind us all of how important it is to be like a child at play.

“Drag Queen

You are the true representation of all that’s Holy and good in this world.

Love is a religion, so let your performances be your ministry, your lip syncing be the anointing and stay baptized and fully immersed in all the glitter, rhinestones and feathers you can glue onto your costumes.”

Kerri Colby, a prominent LA-based Ru Paul’s Drag Race contestant, took to the stage to Beyoncé’s ‘Listen,’ a song about asserting yourself when you are being pushed around.

Prior to the event, Colby told the Blade that anti-LGBTQ bills are simply “a bullying method to attack diversity because it opens minds, brings new perspectives, changes people,” she said.

“This legislation is completely unconstitutional but I also feel that this is going to be the best and most important time for the community, every letter, every color, every creed, to let people know that we have a voice. We have a story and we deserve to be listened to. You can’t mute us and drown us out. You can’t ruin our businesses on which we have worked so hard, you can’t take us off the runway or run us off the road,” she said referring to the Blade’s recent reporting on Marriott and Hard Rock cafe’s initial decision to cancel drag shows at their Tennessee venues.

“We’re never going to go down without a fight,” she said, adding “This is definitely giving some Stonewall energy- in the name of Marsha P. Johnson.”