Pride and protest in Hollywood

Pride and protest in Hollywood

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Tens of thousands of people sporting rainbow attire, "Make America Gay Again" hats and homemade protest signs took part on Sunday in a "Resist March" in Los Angeles against President Donald Trump, an event that took the place of the city's annual pride parade.

The march ended with a rally and speeches by Nancy Pelosi, Democratic leader in the U.S. House of Representatives; Mayor Eric Garcetti; and actor and drag queen icon RuPaul.

Here are portraits of some of those who took part in the march through Los Angeles. One of two Reuters photographers among the crowd asked what each of them would say if given 30 seconds to sit down with Trump.

. West Hollywood, United States. Reuters/Lucy Nicholson

Despite the sharper focus on political issues this year, the event remained at its core a celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender identity. It was one of dozens of pride events scheduled in major cities across the United States this month.

Trump has antagonised many minorities since taking office in January. A ReaClearPolitics average of opinion polls show his approval rating is currently 39 percent, although he retains strong support among Republicans.

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Samantha Jaque-Anton, 16, said: "I’d talk to him about how difficult it is to live in a place where people are discriminated against and ask him to look at the world through our eyes and my eyes and my mother’s eyes and all my friends around me and to see how his America has changed us."
. West Hollywood, United States. Reuters/Mike Blake

Samantha Jaque-Anton, 16, said: "I’d talk to him about how difficult it is to live in a place where people are discriminated against and ask him to look at the world through our eyes and my eyes and my mother’s eyes and all my friends around me and to see how his America has changed us."

Jessica Kilbury, 29, said: "Please give rights to my friends, my family, my brothers and sisters and make equality available for everyone."
. West Hollywood, United States. Reuters/Mike Blake

Jessica Kilbury, 29, said: "Please give rights to my friends, my family, my brothers and sisters and make equality available for everyone."

Cristian Cifuentes, 47, (L), and Sister Teryn McCloseoff, 41. Cifuentes said: "As Americans, we don't believe in hate, we believe in hope. We want a country that is accepting of any kind of race, religion or just choice to love whomever you want to. So, I don't agree with his choices, I don't agree with anything he does and I really hope that Americans wake up and reelect representatives who really look out for their rights."
. West Hollywood, United States. Reuters/Lucy Nicholson

Cristian Cifuentes, 47, (L), and Sister Teryn McCloseoff, 41. Cifuentes said: "As Americans, we don't believe in hate, we believe in hope. We want a country that is accepting of any kind of race, religion or just choice to love whomever you want to. So, I don't agree with his choices, I don't agree with anything he does and I really hope that Americans wake up and reelect representatives who really look out for their rights."

Brenda Coston, 47, said: "I would say to him that love is love and women are not second class citizens; they have as many rights as anyone. People are people. Love is love. Equal rights for everyone. That’s why I’m here today."
. West Hollywood, United States. Reuters/Mike Blake

Brenda Coston, 47, said: "I would say to him that love is love and women are not second class citizens; they have as many rights as anyone. People are people. Love is love. Equal rights for everyone. That’s why I’m here today."

Marisol Ramirez, 46, (L), and Stephanie Hall, 37, pose for a photograph. Ramirez said: "What I would say to Trump is to please consider the ramifications of his words, his actions. All that he's doing and saying is perpetuating hate in our environment. It's not good for our future, it's not good for our children."
. West Hollywood, United States. Reuters/Mike Blake

Marisol Ramirez, 46, (L), and Stephanie Hall, 37, pose for a photograph. Ramirez said: "What I would say to Trump is to please consider the ramifications of his words, his actions. All that he's doing and saying is perpetuating hate in our environment. It's not good for our future, it's not good for our children."

Katrina, 25 (L), & Devon, 22. Katrina said: "There are so many issues that young people really, really care about because it's our future and our children's future. We're afraid."
. West Hollywood, United States. Reuters/Lucy Nicholson

Katrina, 25 (L), & Devon, 22. Katrina said: "There are so many issues that young people really, really care about because it's our future and our children's future. We're afraid."

Dale Rowse, 47 (L), and his husband John Allen, 53. Allen said: "If Trump had been transparent from the word go at lot of this wouldn't have happened and clearly he has something to hide because he's not transparent. It's just really telling and it's just unfortunate that we have to do these things and march. It's very sad that we're going backwards; it's very disappointing. You have hope for people but he has really just let everybody down."
. West Hollywood, United States. Reuters/Lucy Nicholson

Dale Rowse, 47 (L), and his husband John Allen, 53. Allen said: "If Trump had been transparent from the word go at lot of this wouldn't have happened and clearly he has something to hide because he's not transparent. It's just really telling and it's just unfortunate that we have to do these things and march. It's very sad that we're going backwards; it's very disappointing. You have hope for people but he has really just let everybody down."

Dalyan Johnston, 14, (L-R) Lisa Rubio, 51, and Isabel Balboa, 50. Balboa said: "He’s not going to change so we’re going to change America because he’s not going to change us."
. West Hollywood, United States. Reuters/Lucy Nicholson

Dalyan Johnston, 14, (L-R) Lisa Rubio, 51, and Isabel Balboa, 50. Balboa said: "He’s not going to change so we’re going to change America because he’s not going to change us."

Daniel Jennings, 24. Jennings said: "It’s not America First, it’s Humanity First. We’re all equal; it doesn’t matter what country you’re born in. It doesn’t matter where you emigrate to and where you end up. We’re all humans and we need to value human lives the same."
. West Hollywood, United States. Reuters/Lucy Nicholson

Daniel Jennings, 24. Jennings said: "It’s not America First, it’s Humanity First. We’re all equal; it doesn’t matter what country you’re born in. It doesn’t matter where you emigrate to and where you end up. We’re all humans and we need to value human lives the same."

Jao Belanders, 22. Belanders said: "Why so much hate? It baffles me how someone can have so much hate in their heart and inequality and think that's OK and that's power. As president, he should be a leader who inspires hope and change for the better and not influence people to think negatively of other people. It breaks my heart to see that."
. West Hollywood, United States. Reuters/Lucy Nicholson

Jao Belanders, 22. Belanders said: "Why so much hate? It baffles me how someone can have so much hate in their heart and inequality and think that's OK and that's power. As president, he should be a leader who inspires hope and change for the better and not influence people to think negatively of other people. It breaks my heart to see that."