On Wednesday, two days before the presidential inauguration, 200 LGBTQ rights protesters marched to Vice President-elect Mike Pence's home in Chevy Chase, MD. The protest included a loud dance party to protest Pence's history of supporting conversion therapy, same-sex marriage bans, and other anti-LGBTQ policies.
Protesters twerked their way past VP-elect Pence's D.C. home in protest of what they view as his anti-LGBTQ agenda. https://t.co/9qJj4YGs86 [1] pic.twitter.com/oWUjmjjqqp [2]
— ABC News (@ABC) January 19, 2017 [3]
Organizer Firas Nasr rallied a crowd of people from all genders, sexual identities, orientations, ages, and backgrounds, announcing, "We are here tonight to send a clear message to Daddy Pence. We will not tolerate bigotry and hate in our country." According to CNN, Nasr founded the organization Werk for Peace and planned the event along [4] with the group DisruptJ20. Protesters dressed in Pride parade attire and handed out rainbow flags, glow sticks, and hula hoops.
A look at the crowd heading towards Mike Pence's house for a #LGBT [5] dance party pic.twitter.com/cx9ODlbhjZ [6]
— Alexander Rubinstein (@AlexR_DC) January 18, 2017 [7]
The protesters marched for a little over a mile, from Friendship Heights metro station to Chevy Chase Circle, near the Pence temporary family home. The crowd paused frequently to dance to songs by Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Whitney Houston, and Beyoncé.
Hundreds are dancing to @rihanna [8] outside of VP Elect Mike Pence's DC house to protest what they view as his anti-gay policies. pic.twitter.com/Kim1nbAjHi [9]
— Ellison Barber (@ellisonbarber) January 19, 2017 [10]
More from tonight. Party outside Mike Pence's house. @werkforpeace [11] #WeWillDance [12] pic.twitter.com/QCEpu3mhyi [13]
— Alejandro Alvarez (@aletweetsnews) January 19, 2017 [14]
Pence was not at his home at the time but hosting the vice president-elect's inaugural dinner. Still, there's little doubt he heard about the lively event.
To the people having a dance party outside Mike Pence's house right now in support of gay rights......
YOU ARE MY HEROES
🏳️🌈❤😎🎉— Wallis Currie-Wood (@walliscw) January 19, 2017 [15]
This is one of the first of a series of protests expected to happen surrounding the inauguration of Donald Trump and Pence. On Jan. 21, women in major cities around the country will participate in various women's marches [16].