We're Still Here, We're Still Queer: What You Need to Know About Safe Protesting in 2025
LGBTQ+ activists share essential strategies for protecting yourself while making your voice heard
By Liam Clymer
As thousands of Michiganders gear up for Saturday's No Kings protests, now's the time to brush up on safety essentials. We're resharing Pride Source contributor Liam Clymer's January guide featuring local activists' proven strategies for staying safe and making your voice heard effectively. Protect yourselves and each other, queer Michigan.
In many ways, 2025 feels like 2017 all over again. Millions of Americans are engaging in protest as Donald Trump resumes the presidency, including local LGBTQ+ advocates rallying in support of queer rights and against political forces pledging to fight against them.
Protest has the power to create meaningful change, but it’s critical to prioritize safety in order to maintain control and ensure your ability to fight another day. Whether this is your first protest or hundredth, LGBTQ+ advocates told Pride Source their best tips, so anyone can make their voices heard without harm.
Pre-Event Planning
Research the event and understand its goals.
The circumstances of any given protest are always going to be different than the last. That’s why head of head of social justice organization TeamAbad Julisa Abad said it’s important that you should diligently research any event you plan on attending.
She said that aspects such as location, religious affiliation and political climate can dictate how strong the response to protest will be. Abad said that it’s important to not just know what situation you’ll be entering into, but what voices will be raised against yours.
“I always like to be educated when I go to a protest; there's always going to be people that obviously don't agree, but a protest doesn't have to equate to negativity or violence,” she said. “Even if I don't agree, I like to hear why someone has a different perspective so that I can educate myself on something that I don't know or so that I can see how I can change their way of thinking."
"I have my statistics and facts in order and I can make it a teachable moment for somebody that might not be as educated in my cause," Abad added.
Practice self-care and employ practices to protect your identity.
Knowing what event you plan to go to is only one piece of the puzzle — it’s just as important to take care of your well-being.
Abad noted that ideally everyone at demonstrations would be treated with the same level of respect. But since that’s not the case — especially for trans people of color — she said deliberate preparations to protect wellbeing are necessary.
“Sometimes we have to recognize that not everyone has our best interests at heart," she said, "and though sometimes things aren't fair, we want to live to fight another day — educate yourself on what your limitations are.”
“I always say, don't take anything or wear anything that would give them cause to say that your intentions are violent or aggressive, even if they're not,” she added. “I get that, yes, we should be able to wear and say whatever we want. But the reality is people have their biases [and] it might not be safe for you.”
Public health advocate Jason Rosenberg is a member of AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP) in New York, a grassroots organization with the goal of maintaining awareness, creating change and supporting individuals with AIDS through direct action, and a co-founding member of PrEP4Al. He said that clothing could also be used to protect identity — allowing individuals to protest with peace of mind and without risk to personal or financial backlash.
Rosenberg notes that doxxing has become a concern, especially inside the Free Palestine movement, impacting protestors on college campuses and beyond.
“A lot of times, people have used PPE equipment such as anti-Covid masks to protect their face when they’re out in the streets just to ensure that they do not get doxxed,” he said. “That [doxxing] could harm people's workplaces, their incomes or, obviously, their physical safety could be at risk.”
Pack the right essentials.
Water, snacks, proper clothes, a fully charged phone and first aid supplies should be on your checklist for any protest. But Rosenberg also emphasized the importance of carrying ID — and exactly what kind.
“It's always good to have your ID on you just to ensure that you have it in case you need it,” Rosenberg said. “Have your phone on you, but do not have face ID connected to it.”
According to Rosenberg, face ID could spell trouble for cops who don’t mind stepping over personal boundaries. Depending on your area, police may feel emboldened to pressure you into unlocking your phone with face ID. Generally, a digit-based unlock code is seen as better protected under your rights.
“Different police jurisdictions could use [face ID], so it's really important to turn that off,” he added.
During the Protest
Practice situational awareness.
Stay alert to surroundings and note emergency exits. When in the high-energy environment that’s often found in protesting, it can be easy to lose your bearings. The “OODA Loop” can help combat this. The acronym stands for “Observe, Orient, Decide, Act” and provides an easy to remember framework to utilize in emergency situations.
Observe: Pinpoint any danger and observe your surroundings
Orient: Take in your current location and decide where you need to go from there
Decide: Determine a course of action that minimizes risk
Act: Move forward with your action while keeping aware of your environment
Use the buddy system for accountability and support.
As a part of your planning, it's crucial to establish an emergency contact outside of whatever event you’re attending. Give this contact an outline of your plan (when and how you’ll arrive and leave) and how to assist in an emergency situation.
But while you are on the ground, Rosenberg said having a buddy is a must for your physical welfare. “Always have at least one protest buddy with you so that you can keep an eye on each other and ensure safety both from escalators outside of the protest, but also from the police and other state violence,” he said.
Engage peacefully and avoid escalation if tensions rise.
Wearing clothes to make you feel safe and keep your identity protected is a step in the right direction, but even then, you may be a target of escalation — knowing how to respond ensures that your message won't be drowned out, but instead resonate effectively.
When faced with escalation, remain calm and keep your voice steady. Avoid any provocative behavior that may lead law enforcement to believe you have intent to be violent. But in the case that all else fails, simply remove yourself from the situation — you can’t be targeted unfairly if you aren’t there.
Rosenberg said that protest is a learning experience and that there’s much to be gained from those around you. “I learned a lot just by attending meetings, organizing actions and learning from elders and veterans in the space,” he said. “I think that's where I learned most of what I know. Obviously you learn a lot by experience, but I feel very grateful for the connections that I have and that I build through ACT UP.”
“We connect with our elders to learn things that worked and things that didn't," he added. "A lot of coalitions that were built as a result of the different climates of our past, navigated those different waters and we can learn from that — obviously different protest tactics.”
Know your rights as a protester.
As a protester, it’s important to know your rights, so you can make informed decisions if they’re ever infringed upon.
You have the right to…
To demonstrate in “traditional public forums” such as sidewalks, parks and streets.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel noted that restrictions apply to some specific public spaces such as voting locations and universities.
Be protected by private property owners. Counter protest.
Photograph anything in plain view as long as you're in a public space — including law enforcement.
March on streets or sidewalks without a permit.
Learn more about your rights in the comprehensive protest guide on ACLU’s website at aclu.org/know-your-rights/protesters-rights.
Prepare for potential encounters with law enforcement.
Before attending a protest, Rosenberg suggests writing a legal number on the inside of your arm in case you do get arrested. Michiganlegalhelp.org provides a helpful breakdown of services specific to your area or you can always request legal assistance from the ACLU of Michigan at 313-578-6800, but be aware of their limited hours.
Rosenberg added that it’s important to identify where key individuals are when entering a space, including medics, anyone with water or supplies and, most importantly, marshals.
Protest marshals are specially trained protesters often found on the outside perimeters of groups to ensure the safety of those within, usually wearing bright or neon clothing. They’re typically communicating with organizers outside the space and are equipped to handle anyone dealing with mental health episodes or in need of medical assistance. Essentially, they’re your point of contact for any significant issue, as they have grasp on where all assistance is located.
If you are detained, try to write down what you remember when given the opportunity — including names, badge and patrol car numbers and the agency the officers work for. If you’re injured or you believe your rights have been violated, these details may become pertinent — be sure to take pictures of any injuries too!
Document and Amplify
Document and share the protest without exposing vulnerable individuals.
While you’re fully within your rights to take photos and videos at public protest events, Rosenberg said consent is key.
“It is a conversation and it's ensuring the consent of everyone in the group that there will be photos, there will be filming and if you do not want to be in the photos and filming, then let us know and there will still be space for you at this action, but it will be in a different physical space,” he said.
When planning a protest, Rosenberg added, you have to be deliberate in including everyone and not leaving anyone “on the margins." Abad shared similar insight, explaining that even within communities that are discriminated against, some are granted more privilege than others.
“Yes, if we talk about the totem pole, I am at a shitty part of the totem pole because I'm a trans woman of color,” Abad said. “But even with that shitty part of the totem pole that I'm at, there's trans women of color that are at a shittier part of the totem pole because of things that we don't talk about, like colorism. Because I'm lighter complected, there are spaces and places that I'm going to be able to go to that my trans sisters and peers that are dark skin — just as smart, just as beautiful, just as competent — are not going to be able to be heard or be in.”
Documenting these nuances help ensure everyone is protected.
Build momentum online through virtual protesting and solidarity messages.
Sometimes the hardest part of protest is getting eyes on a movement. Rosenberg said one of the most effective ways is engaging through storytelling.
“The idea is to [share] moments and stories to make sure as many eyes can get on the issue that you’re protesting about,” he said. “You have to be very thoughtful and mindful about how you convey that message through social media. Whether it is the chants that are in a video, whether it's on a banner or whether it's on a t-shirt.”
He noted that if the message being conveyed by a group doesn’t fully align with what you’re looking for, it’s good to create something new — you may help others in doing so.
“Especially at this time, we must make sure that no one is left behind,” Rosenberg said. “We've seen too many communities on the margins getting left behind in our larger movements or spaces and we have to look and see if those spaces are worth fighting for.”
“If the space doesn't exist, create it for yourself and create it for others because others may be looking for that space too,” Rosenberg said.