President Donald Trump has been forced to postpone or cancel several planned trips to visit UK Prime Minister Theresa May after threatened protests. But his latest attempt, slated for July, is a go – at least for now. This time, if and when he makes the trip across the pond, he’ll be greeted by a massive protest by “drag kings, queens, queers and allies” who have signed up on Facebook to protest the anti-LGBTQ U.S. president.
“Due to the appalling way the Trump administration has regarded the rights and welfare of LGBTQI communities of the US, the idea of a Trump visit to the UK is unacceptable,” the Drag Protest Against Trump UK Visit Facebook page reads.
Already almost 7000 have indicated they’re interested in attending.
“Let’s get visible, stand with our sister’s [sic], brothers and others in America, and show that we are a country that celebrates diversity,” the call for protestors urges. “All ages, races, genders and orientations welcome!”
Cheddar Gorgeous, one of the protest’s organizers, also wrote, “Great to see so many people interested in telling Donald to Trump Off!”
In an op-ed just-published in The Guardian explaining the protest, Gorgeous writes: “Despite claiming on the campaign trail to be ‘gay friendly’, the Trump administration has unleashed a barrage of policies and amendments that demonstrate the contrary. From reinstating a ban on transgender military personnel and rescinding legal protections for trans workers and students to arguing in favour of a homophobic cake shop, the actions of the US president have been decidedly unfriendly to LGBTQI people.”
On July 13, when Trump lands in the UK, he’ll be greeted not only by what likely will be thousands of drag kings, queens, queers and allies, but a larger all-out protest being called a “carnival of resistance.”
“Within hours of the announcement,” of Trump’s, “more than 100,000 Facebook users signalled their interest in ‘Protest Trump’s visit‘, a demonstration organised by journalist Owen Jones,” The Week UK reports.
43,000 people have already signed up to that rally against the president. Another 124,000 say they are interested in attending – and it’s only April.
The mayor of London appears to be in support of the protests:
Image via Drag Protest Against Trump UK Visit/Facebook