#SmallSimpleSafe Movement to be Active Again

The group responsible for the #smallsimplesafe movement is not done with its activism. You may remember that at the beginning of February, a D.C. drag king named Lord Henry (they/them) and their community protested the erasure of queer art in the National Portrait Gallery (NPG). The art installation “Untitled” (Portrait of Ross in L.A.) by the late Cuban, queer, artist Felix González-Torres was displayed by the NPG without the proper labeling or in the correct arrangement to pass on the intended message that González-Torres was a queer man and his partner passed away from HIV/AIDS-related illness.

Lord Henry and their community saw the art installation as erasing the queer truth about the art piece and they decided to do something about it. They went into the NPG, rearranged the candies to their correct shape, and handed out fliers that explained the true meaning to the other guests visiting the museum. It was part of their #smallsimplesafe movement through which they encourage people to perform small, simple, and safe acts of resistance or disruption. Lord Henry told OFM that even though an action is small, it can still be meaningful.

This time, Lord Henry and Co. are going to be protesting the hostile Trump takeover of the national arts center. They will be holding a rally in the northwest area of Washington D.C. on Saturday, March 8, at 6 p.m. There will be big-name drag speakers such as Tara Hoot, Mari Con Carne, and Cake Pop. Following the rally will be a short march to the Kennedy Center, and then a Queer Joy Dance Party at the As You Are Bar at 8:30 p.m. Lord Henry tells OFM, “Our purpose is to show that drag isn’t going anywhere, that Queer Joy is resistance, and drag is existence!”

They also tell us that there will be a robust safety team in place to protect folks as well as two teams of legal observers from the National Lawyers Guild to make sure that the protesters’ rights to free speech and protest are being respected. Lord Henry encourages everyone who can to show up and dress in drag if they feel comfortable; the turnout is expected to be large!

While this act of resistance is quite a bit larger than their NPG protest, this is still part of their #smallsimplesafe movement. You don’t have to do much, or put yourself in danger, to object to the injustices you see. Forming community is resistance. Being yourself and experiencing joy out loud is resistance. Refusing to disappear is resistance.

Flier courtesy of #smallsimplesafe