Why 'No Kings Day' was a moment for the LGBTQ community too

Tens of thousands of people gathered in downtown L.A. on Saturday to not only protest, but to critique the Trump administration’s executive orders targeting the LGBTQ and immigrant communities across the country. 

Angelenos showed up by the numbers for the second week in a row, with some reports suggesting that upwards of 50,000 demonstrators filled the streets of downtown L.A., to protest the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids happening across the country, with many of those raids happening in L.A. and its adjacent counties. 

Last weekend marked the first major round of protests across SoCal and the nation, as ICE raids began to take more people off the streets.

Many of the demonstrators, who showed up to protest against ICE deportations and rally in support of those affected by the executive orders, showed up with Pride flags, Pride gear and poster boards with references to the queer and trans communities. 

Since Trump's first day in office, he has actively made moves that strip marginalized communities from their rights and resources, deporting people like Andry Hernandez Romero — a queer, Latinx, make-up artist — to countries they don't belong in, and for reasons that did not warrant such drastic actions.

"No Kings Only Queens" sign held by protester on 'No Kings Day,' in Los Angeles on June 14, 2025.

(Photo credit Gisselle Palomera)

"No Kings Day" was deemed a nationwide protest taking place on Saturday, June 14, which was  meant to be Donald Trump’s 79th birthday celebration, as well as the U.S. Army’s 250th Anniversary Parade. Media outlets have reported that Trump’s birthday celebration attracted  very few people and the U.S. Army’s 250th Anniversary Parade did not see the major turnout that was expected. 

The protests were planned as a movement showing the federal government, as well as the local governments, that a large swath of the American public is hurt, angry, tired and desperate for change. 

At the protest, Los Angeles Blade spoke to sources on the ground who were spotted wearing Pride gear, and other gear mixed with the Pride flag and Mexican flag, signaling their intersectional identity in both communities being attacked by the federal government.

E. Torres, 31, was at the protest carrying a Pride flag on his back, peacefully protesting for immigrant rights and against ICE deportations and kidnappings. 

“I think it’s really important for me to be out here to kind of show my own representation as a queer, Latinx person,” said Torres. “You guys can’t see this, but I’m currently wearing my LGBTQ flag because it’s important for me as a Latino, to show up and show out and represent our community.” 

Torres says he grew up in the San Fernando Valley as a child of immigrants from Mexico. In the interview on the streets with LA Blade, Torres stated the importance of showing up to support the communities being affected. 

“If we don’t [show up] then who’s going to do it for us?” he said. 

The Blade also spoke to Hannah Prawat, 39, who was at the protest with her group of friends, carrying a totem pole with a Pride flag at the top. 

“This fascism has been encroaching on us. We live in a fascist state under cognitive dissonance and this belief that we have freedom. But we don’t,” said Prawat. “Our job is to stand like a shield and say: ‘This is as far as it goes’.”  

Another friend in their group, Melissa, 34, who only felt comfortable sharing her first name, says that she feels that as a white woman, it is her duty to be out there protesting.

“For us as a group, it is important as white women, to come out and use our voices and our bodies, because we know that our voices are sometimes heard above others,” she said. “So for us, it was just kind of imperative just to be out here and to say that we stand with you and that we will be your voice, if you can’t [use yours].” 

Protester waves Mexican flag across from L.A. City Hall during "No Kings Day" on Saturday, June 14, 2025.

(Photo credit Gisselle Palomera)

In downtown Los Angeles, protestors danced, chanted, waved flags and displayed poster boards with critical messages to ICE agents, police force, military and those who support them. The unruly part came around 3 p.m., when police force began shoving protesters, hitting them with batons and deploying tear gas on crowds that had already begun moving out of the area. 

More protests are planned in the upcoming days, with many organizers and organizations saying that more protests should be planned across smaller cities where ICE presence has been spotted taking people, including Montebello, Pico Rivera, Downey and South Central. 

This is a developing story. Check our website for other updates and resources.