On Easter Sunday, April 9, 2023, the streets of West Hollywood were filled with defiant chants, boisterous cheers, and vibrant outfits as more than 2,000 Angelenos gathered to protest the rising tide of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation across the country.
Organized by the Los Angeles LGBT Center in partnership with more than 40 LGBTQ+ organizations, the all-ages Drag March LA brought together faith groups, queer and trans activists, drag artists, and hundreds of supporters. Rev. Keith Mozingo of Founders Metropolitan Community Church (dressed as drag persona Penny Costal) came right from Easter Services to bless demonstrators before the march began.
“We stand together united by our unwavering belief in the fundamental right to love and be loved, the right to be recognized and respected, the right to live our lives authentically without fear or discrimination—and do with our bodies what we wish,” Los Angeles LGBT Center CEO Joe Hollendoner said at the pre-march rally. “Like those who came before us, we are not just fighting for ourselves. We are here to fight for the generations to come. We owe it to our youth to create a world where they can grow up knowing that they are loved, respected, and valued, no matter who they are or whom they love. And we owe it to our elders—the people who fought for our hard-earned progress—to fight back against these evils when they rear their ugly heads.”
Additional speakers at the rally included Trans Wellness Center program manager Mariana Marroquin, Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, City of West Hollywood Mayor Sepi Shyne, Jazzmun Crayton of APAIT, Bamby Salcedo of the TransLatin@ Coalition, Tony Hoang of Equality California, and Rev. Keith Mozingo of Founders Metropolitan Community Church
RuPaul’s Drag Race alums Kerri Colby and Honey Davenport performed for the crowd along with the drag king Twinka Masala, and a resource fair was available on site to connect attendees with local service providers and community organizers.
In the first three months of 2023 alone, more than 400 pieces of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation were introduced or passed across the United States, most of them targeting transgender and gender nonconforming people. Drag March LA was formed to serve as a reminder of the strength of the LGBTQ+ community—and a call to action to continue fighting in defense of free self-expression, bodily autonomy, and equality for all.
