Doc Hop

This week I saw a post that read, “Los Angeles didn’t survive fire to be taken down by ICE.”

When wildfire was devouring California cities, Trump did NOTHING. He offered nothing but blame to the state and its residents. In the weeks since, he’s threatened to cut off federal funding for educational grants to the state and university systems. And now that he’s in a fight with his little billionaire buddy and needs to distract from the fact that he’s in the Epstein files (as if this is new information!), he wants to pick his biggest fight — immigration — with his bluest state — California. Unfortunately for Trump and his band of NAZI SCUM — if you fuck with California, you’re going to find out.

Anti-Deportation Protests in LA

After two days of ICE protests, Trump sent in the National Guard to force peaceful demonstrators off the streets of LA. I had planned to spend my entire Sunday at Pride, but it felt important that I show up as a number in support of the collective action. Since the Metro allows me to zip around the city quickly, I decided to do both. (I will take this moment to emphasize that it was possible to do both, because counter to what you might hear on Fox News, LA is not under attack or drowning in a sea of fire. These protests are taking place in very isolated parts of the city. I took myself to these demonstrations; they did not come to me.)

I took the Metro from Long Beach to the Historic Broadway stop in downtown LA and followed a crowd toward the 101 Freeway, where protesters had blocked entrances to off-ramps at Alameda and Los Angeles. While it’s business as usual in most of LA, here graffiti reading “FUCK ICE” pockmarked city buildings, while anti-deportation signs and Mexican flags waved from busy streets and overpasses. About a block from the demonstration site I saw a wave of protesters exiting the area, with warnings that the police were shooting tear gas into the crowd.

I have never been to a protest like this one, and if I am completely honest with myself, it felt like the first real protest I have ever been to in my life. I marched for George Floyd and Black Lives Matter, but I did it from Athens, Ohio, where nothing was happening. Everyone mostly agrees with each other and the real fight felt hundreds of miles away. But this time it was in my front yard. In my community. And this time I could smell the tear gas and hear the pop of rubber bullets. I felt scared, but I also felt like I was really doing something. In Athens we wouldn’t block the street, but in LA we cut off ICE’s access to an entire freeway! I felt high off the power of it, like freedom expressed or demanded can become a drug.

Most of the protest was a tug and war for ground between the activists and the LA police department, with the police gaining more ground than they lost. Two people were arrested while I was there — one for driving a motorcycle through the crowd/toward the police barrier and another for breaking across the police barrier. A man and a woman, respectively. I did not witness any serious injuries, but I’m sure some egos were hurt because the heckling taking place was fucking fire! So funny.

What really got me was how many of the LA police were immigrants themselves. It really got me thinking about the sides we’re fighting on, and about the Nazi’s who participated in WWII “on orders.” I’ve since read that LA police will no longer aid ICE. I’m glad, but I wish this had been the decision from the start. I’m also really proud of our governor, Gavin Newsom, who isn’t taking any of Trump’s bullshit lying down.

I am so incredibly proud to be a part of the California anti-deportation movement. I am so proud to be a member of this community. And I will continue to fight for this community, and everyone who belongs to it.

Below you will find the raw footage that I shot of the crowds and demonstrations at the 101. It’s thrown together without any sort of cuts, transitions, or context, but it captures the vibe of the protests better than photos alone. I have to admit — as much as I love being an educator, historic moments like this really make me miss being a member of the press. As Trump moves to dismantle our First Amendment rights — starting with the right to assemble and protest — it is the responsibility of the press to serve as a watchdog and hold our police and our legislators accountable. As a citizen journalist, I am trying to do the same thing.

LA Pride with Alaska and 76th Street

Alaska was headlining LA Pride at 7 p.m., so around 5 p.m. I hopped back on the Metro toward northern Hollywood. I got off at Hollywood and Highland, which was one stop too far. I had to backtrack to Vine, but I didn’t mind because it gave me more time to walk down the Hollywood Walk of Fame! I even passed the sushi place I enjoyed during my first trip to LA. It was really good and I’ve been meaning to go back, but I wasn’t sure if was still open for business. Turns at it was, and I will!

I knew I had made it to the right when when I ran into this sad group of protesters at the entrance of Pride Village. Given the tone of my day, this was just another not so pleasant reminder that the first Pride was also a riot. Can you imagine protesting against the LGBTQIA community when families are literally being pulled apart and torn from their homes? Luckily, their pathetic posse was easily ignored, and there was an abundance of love inside.

Once inside I grabbed an iced coffee and slowly made my way through Pride Village, which stretched two city blocks lined with local vendors, community outreach booths, and SoCal food trucks. Their was a trans gallery featuring works by trans and nonbinary artists, a community stage, and a music stage.

I walked up and down the square about two or three times, bought an LA Pride shirt, then grabbed a spot at the front of the music stage to wait for Alaska’s set to begin. (She’s been in New York all year for Drag the Musical, so this is the longest I’ve gone without seeing her since I first saw her three years ago! It was a big day for me.)

While waiting for Alaska to take the stage I was lucky enough to be front and center for 76th Street, whom I was unfamiliar with but immediately followed on socials. They were so good! They said they’d been making and performing music together since they were 10 years old, and their friendship definitely came through on stage. Their music was so fun and so gay! I can’t get enough, and I will definitely be vibing to the pop duo during my next bike ride.

They also helped me check another LA totem off my list — two stars wearing the same outfit at the same event. Last week I saw a rollerblader in booty shorts, so that means I’m just two totems away from being a true Angeleno. (In case you’ve lost track, the two remaining are: 1) an off-brand super hero and 2) a palm tree on fire.)

I always geek out when I see Alaska, but after such a long break my excitement was through the roof! She performed all of her classic hits, including Hieeeeee, Nails, Everything Must be Leopard Print, and I Love Your Pussy. At general gigs like this, Alaska often sticks to the classics, but I believe this was my first time hearing her perform I Love Your Pussy live and in color, so that was very exciting for me! As you can see by the photos, she also had a few exciting (and actually unexpected!) reveals!

Ugh. I just love her so much.

While I love the classics, a major highlight was when Alaska brought out her friend Jeremy to perform on piano while she sang a new song live for the first time. She said that given today’s politically turbulent times, when being out and proud is once again seen as a dangerous act, she asked herself, “If this was my last Pride, how would I want to spend it?” And her answer was performing with her best friends for her community. I’d also want to spend my last Pride with Alaska, so I’m so incredibly grateful that I am finally a part of the community she shares.

(Also — during this song she sang “I fucking love you” while making direct eye contact with me. So, I can die now. And if you don’t believe me, check out the 14-minute long video at the end of this section. I assure you the proof is in there.)

A surprise guest appearance from Bosco was another major highlight! Alaska transitioned from Everything Must be Leopard Print to a cover of All That She Wants. Alaska’s music video for the Ace of Base cover features Bosco, so it was the PERFECT cameo and collaboration for Pride. Bosco is killing this season of Drag Race All Stars, so you can only imagine how wild the crowd went! This was also my first time ever seeing Bosco live, so I was SUPER excited. And in case you were wondering — yes, she looks just as beautiful in person. More so.

Toward the end of her set Alaska took a moment to address the current deportation issues plaguing Los Angeles County, as well as the entire country. Stressing the importance of community and emphasizing Pride as a RIOT, she encouraged active political participation and outrage. She then went into a rendition of Your Makeup is Terrible, aimed specifically at Trump and Trump’s hateful policies. I didn’t capture this part of her performance, but Alaska shared it to her socials, and I encourage everyone to check it out.

Always one to end on a BANG — Alaska closed out her show with a quick Read You, Wrote You, complete with Roxxxy’s (horribly) iconic part. AND she blew me a kiss! Of course, she blew practically every person in the front row a kiss, but GIRL, YOU KNOW I CAUGHT IT!!

Again, I’ve included a mash-up of all the videos I shot during Alaska’s performance, without any edits or transitions between clips. This is much longer than the protest clip, but worth every second.

I want to close by sending out a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has checked in on me and LA this week. It means so much to me to know that you’ve kept me and my community in mind when there is so much going on in the world. Every kind note means more than you know. ❤️

Happy Pride, everyone!