On Saturday morning I rose with sun and drove an hour and a half behind the Orange curtain (Huntington Beach) to pick up “Paris”, my road trip buddy. Our rental was sponsored by the House of Dmaaj who were unable to attend, but wanted to ensure our presence was secured in New Mexico so we packed up the car and we were off. 12 hours later we pulled into New Mexico’s Santa Ana Star Center. It was dark, deserted and empty with the exception of a few guard rails.
We looked for security and when we found none, we called the local police to inquire about overnight stays. Our plan was always to camp out for as long as it took to be first in line. Under the threat of removal, we took refuge in a patriot’s home and resumed our goal in the morning. We returned to the venue at daybreak Sunday and found police guarding every entrance. We asked about sitting and waiting in the parking lot and were turned away.
Not willing to let a perfectly good trip go to waste, we had breakfast in old town wearing our MAGA gear then headed to Santa Fe to spread the word of Trump. I wore my “Free commie rides” shirt and MAGA hat as we explored Meow Wolf for several hours. Having never heard of the exhibit I was confused at first, but open to a new experience, I eventually found myself exploring every nook and cranny like an excited 6 year old. Hunger and the drive to be first in line snapped us back to Rio Rancho and the Star Center at 5pm.
When we arrived, there was one person sitting alone at what would be the top of the lines for the rally. Two other people were also there chatting with local PD and it was in that moment we decided to unload basic essentials and drop the car off at a safe location. I left my friend at the venue and I raced to leave the car and return with food, extra essentials and hurried back. By 6pm we were all in line and ready for a long night.
As the night drew, rain fell, lightning flashed, thunder boomed, and the wind tried to shake our resolve. When the shift change happened, new officers were there to tell us to move along. We said, “Gladly, where?” Without vehicles, or tents, we were 3 people sitting in chairs and blankets waiting to see the President. They ushered us off property onto the dirt median before receiving new orders that allowed us to “camp” in front of the Arena. While I made myself as small as possible and hid under the tarp protecting our valuables poor Kristopher Dreww sought refuge in the unused portable toilets during the worst of the thunderstorms. I maybe slept 3 hours total but it was worth it to be at the head of the line.
Just before day break I was interviewed by two local news stations (13 and 4) and when the crowds arrived I was bombarded with people saying “I saw you on TV this morning”; I was estatic. My little voice was on tv!
By 9am I had put my stilettos on and was strutting my stuff among the ocean of patriots. I was elated when other LGBT people sought me out to take photos and eventually a small group of us walked around the rally encouraging chants and showing the world that yes, Gays love our President. I wasn’t assaulted, or had anything thrown at me and felt an overwhelming wave of support from the ginormous crowd. It was the best Pride Parade I’ve ever participated in!
When the arena finally opened I pressed myself as close as I could the front and was not going to be displaced by anyone. 48 dedicated hours were NOT going to be wasted being 3 people back, I was going to be on that rail. When the President arrived, the crowd was massive and the decibels coming from them were just as boisterous. Leaving the rally the sky opened up again and after being in stilettos for 14 hours (off and on), I took my shoes off, wrapped myself in a Trump Flag and rushed to the car through the dirt, rocks, and asphalt as fast as I my sore feet would let me. Arriving at our temporary home I filled my air mattress and crashed.
The next day at 7am local time, I began the process of packing our car and by 9am, Paris and Nicole were back on the road. The 12 hours flew by and on the way home we sang, we laughed, we shouted, we cried, and most of all, we bonded. My experience with my newest patriot buddy was one for that ages and if you asked me today if I would do it again, I would say, “Let’s go, right now!”
