TERF Rally in Pittsburgh Surrounded and Shouted Down

Report back from recent rally against far-Right TERFs. Originally posted to Filler Collective.

Last September, our amazing Pittsburgh Community gathered outside the City-County Building Downtown to let a group of TERFs know that their voices and fascist hate have no place in our city. At that time, we succeed in outnumbering them and drowning them out. Once again, on June 16th, they returned to try it all over again. In short, the half dozen TERFs who gathered on the steps were completely drowned out by a crowd that outnumbered them at least 10:1. It was impossible to hear a single word they said. Their display was quite frankly sad and pathetic.

Separately from the little group of TERFs, we entertained ourselves by heckling a lone woman in a MAGA hat, who was livestreaming to some paltry crowd of fash online. What she said matters little; just a constant stream of the usual fash talking points. You couldn’t hear them anyway over the cacophony of sound that we put out. She was continuously crowded out, blasted with noise, flashed by some members of our queer community and forced to retreat back to her safe-space behind cop lines time and time again.

🎶 You're out-num-bered🎶

Keep the volume and the energy up, friends. https://t.co/S4EFRoqsri pic.twitter.com/j4yi93Vek1

— pghfashwatch (@pghfashwatch) June 16, 2023

Given the large police presence and the known risks of actions that take place downtown, tactics can only feasibly escalate so far. As such, a complete shut-down of the event was not really viable. Given this, our ability to render their demonstration  moot can be chalked up as a resounding success. More importantly, looking back at the vibes of the action, it may as well have been a party. A celebration of our Queer community, and what we are able to do.

Obviously, it’s June. It’s Pride month, designated as such on account of a queer riot back in 1969. While going to raves and festivals to celebrate is fun, it’s important to remember that we as a community must always refuse to take any shit from those who seek to eradicate and silence us. What happened downtown was a perfect representation of both aspects of this month. Making TERFs and fascists afraid and not letting their voices be heard is the greatest celebration possible.

In Solidarity,
– Your local (very queer) Trash Cat