Bracing for impact
Kelly Neidert organized Protect Texas Kids last year to protest against drag shows. (Photo by Chad Mantooth) Take Back Oak Lawn ready to counter right-wing protesters at Pride CAROLINE SAVOIE | Contributing Writercarosavoiswriting@gmail.com With Pride events quickly approaching in DFW, organizers are bracing themselves against any possible threats, including expected appearances from anti-LGBTQ groups like Protect Texas Kids and the Proud Boys.
One former Oak Lawn resident runs a Facebook group called Take Back Oak Lawn (TBOL), a counter-protest group aimed at protecting Pride-goers.
He said the group, which started in 2015 in response to random attacks in the Gayborhood, is an “unofficial watchdog over Oak Lawn.” A Facebook event promoting the counter-protest says, “We need to show them that our community is strong and that their hate will not be tolerated.
Bring signs, noisemakers to drown them out and, most importantly, yourselves.” Protect Texas Kids, started last year by neo-fascist agitator Kelly Neidert, has hosted anti-queer protests at drag shows throughout the DFW area, and this year’s Pride is no exception.
