Discrimination based on sexual orientation has been prevalent in society since early history, resulting in a modern community of #LGBT individuals who are determined to obtain equal rights once and for all.
While the fight for this equality has been a progressive one, the journey toward full acceptance has been nothing short of arduous. Recently, LGBT protests have been prompted by a debated issue that has yet to be completely resolved: transgender people using public restrooms. 
Since his election in 2016, Donald Trump’s (@realDonaldTrump) policies have angered LGBT Americans, especially in the regards to this issue. To combat his homophobic attitude, the LGBT community displayed resilience in unity with an ironic parter— the Christian church.
Incorporating the church in such a protest is monumental, as traditional Catholic ideals often frowned upon homosexuality and previously resisted notions of equality for people of all sexual identities.
To display solidarity with victimized LGBT members, a number of churches and Christian groups in the U.S. blended purple glitter into the blessed ashes on Ash Wednesday of 2017. #glitterashwednesday
This act was so powerful 1.) because of the church’s previous dissaproval of the LGBT community, 2.) the association of a sacred item with a symbol of this group, and 3.) the scope of participation and influence of this protest.
Martha Quillin states in The News & Observer, “As they enter the season of Lent, some believers are sprinkling glitter into their ashes to signify that everybody's equal in God's eyes, too, including those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.” newsobserver.com/living/religio…
This was not the first time where glitter was used to show support for LGBT rights. There is a notable history of the use of glitter to express moral outrage and show resistance (Roberston).
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“Glitter bombings,” for example, have often been witnessed. These consist of dumping glitter on political figures in favor of anti-LGBT policies, such as Mitt Romney in 2012 during the presidential campaign:
While it may seem insignificant in the every-day world, glitter has proven to be a symbol of strength for LGBT individuals through these various methods of peaceful protest.
Rev. Marian Edmonds-Allen, executive director of Parity (parity.nyc), a faith-based New York City organization that organized the Glitter Ash Wednesday events, explains what is at the root of these events.
According to Marian, these protests were “meant to be acts of love and resistance at a time when members of the LGBTQ community could feel especially vulnerable to discrimination.” Glitter is only a part of the fight for LGBT rights— there is still a long way to go. 🌈✨👊
