LGBTQ activists, allies rally in Montgomery: ‘Not going to take this quietly’
As the Alabama legislature again considers restrictions on LGBTQ-related topics and events, more than 200 Alabama residents marched in Montgomery Tuesday.
Protesters asked for support for LGBTQ residents and legal protections, which they say are under threat from lawmakers. In recent years, the state has limited discussion of so-called “divisive topics,” in schools; and limited transgender people’s access to school and college bathrooms, sports teams and medical treatment.
Lawmakers have prefiled bills that would again target some library activities and school and camp bathroom use.
“In a time of hate, love is a kind of resistance,” said Marge Ragona, a 95-year-old pastor and activist. “In a time of fear, faith is a kind of resistance. In a time of misinformation, education is a kind of resistance.”
In her State of the State address Tuesday, Gov. Kay Ivey pledged support for a bill from Rep. Susan DuBose, R-Hoover, that would define sex-based terms and apply them only to people’s sex at birth.
“There are only two genders: Male and female. I look forward to finally putting my signature on the What is a Woman bill by Representative Susan Dubose,” Ivey said.
Susan Stewart, a Huntsville activist from the advocacy group The Root Collective, was there to support trans people. She criticized HB4, which could criminalize librarians for giving “inappropriate content” and punish those who attend reading events such as drag queen reading hour.
“We’re not going to take this quietly,” Stewart told AL.com. “We’re not going to give up with without a fight.”
People gathered at the Alabama statehouse Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, at the beginning of the legislative session to advocate for LGBTQ rights. Williesha Morris/AL.comWilliesha Morris
She said other legislation, including DuBose’s “What Is a Woman” bill, also goes after marginalized groups such as the trans community.
“When marginalized people come together, we can be stronger than the opposition,” Stewart said.
Auburn student Ian Maurelli, 22, told AL.com he attended the rally because he worries same-sex marriage may again be put before the Supreme Court. Lawmakers in Idaho recently asked the court to reconsider a 2015 decision that declared a nationwide right to same-sex marriage.
“I feel like young people are really the ones that have the fire in them to keep this going,” Maurelli said. “Obviously, there are people of all shapes, ages, and sizes here, so we need to keep the momentum that we have and really hit the ground running in the future whenever we’re the ones to take over.”
Several Democratic state representatives spoke to the protesters at the state house, including Neil Rafferty (D-Birmingham), an openly gay state legislator, Phillip Ensler (D-Montgomery) and Marilyn Lands (D-Huntsville).
“Thank you for bringing the love here,” Lands said. “Think with love. I want that to guide everything I do. I believe there is a divine spark within each of us.”
Ambrosia Starling from Dothan told the crowd she has been an activist since Roy Moore ran for Senate in 2017.
“We have to go forward on the right path and the only path,” Starling said. “We need unity to build our community. We need unity to save our community.”

Travis Jackson, an Alabama activist and veteran, stands outside the Alabama statehouse Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. Jackson joined a protest at the beginning of the legislative session to advocate for LGBTQ rights. Williesha Morris/AL.comWilliesha Morris
Travis Jackson, a veteran and activist from Montgomery, was among several speakers who rallied the crowd with affirmations and chants such as “enough is enough.”
“I fought for the rights of all Americans, including you brave people here,” Jackson said. “Enough is enough. Disrupt the status quo. You are your own dominant, groundbreaking legacy.”