Although President Trump and some of his surrogates like to boast about his support from LGBTQ+ people, the community doesn’t seem to be showing him much love.
For a man who obsesses over television ratings and crowd sizes at rallies, the recent “Gays and Housewives Take Over WeHo” rally could be best described as an epic fail. Log Cabin Republicans quietly organized the event, which was scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Friday night on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood. But only a few dozen people turned out to “take over” the neighborhood in a show of support for Trump.
Videos posted on social media showed ralliers agitating people who were dining outside in WeHo, including several confrontations where people flipped the bird at their raucous demonstration. One car passing by even bumped up the YG and Nipsey Hussle track “FDT” in defiance of the event.
As Lady MAGA, a Trump-supporting drag queen, marched through the streets, a man shouted that the activists who rioted at Stonewall would be ashamed. “Drag queens have died on the street for your right to walk in those heels,” he said.
Even though West Hollywood has enacted a mask mandate in their area, face coverings were not worn by those who attended the “Gays for Trump” event. The event, which was said to number 70 attendees at best, also flounced city guidelines limiting public gatherings to 10 people or less.
The event attracted further criticism from observers who saw law enforcement being chummy and posing for photos with rally attendees who were clad in Trump 2020 gear.
“I’ve been to numerous rallies on both sides at this point, and I have to say that the difference in treatment during fully peaceful protests is drastic — to say the least,” tweeted photographer Chelsea Lauren, who was present at the event.
The “Gays for Trump” event was planned in secret so as to not attract a swarm of counter-protestors. According to WeHoVille, organizers notified the Sheriff’s Department in advance and asked group members not to post information about the event on social media because it might attract opposition. Only 9% of voters in WeHo are registered as Republican, while 43% of residents identify as LGBTQ+.
