As ICE raids escalate in Los Angeles, something unexpected is happening on your For You Page. In between thirst traps, GRWMs, and recipe demos, TikTok — often dismissed as frivolous — has become an impromptu staging ground for protest. But not just any protest. A protest led, amplified, and shaped by queer voices who are refusing to stay silent as immigrant communities face militarized crackdowns.
This isn’t just aesthetic activism or virtue-signaling for views. It’s resource-sharing, legal education, and political solidarity happening in real time, often filmed in bedrooms, kitchens, or the front seat of a parked car. TikTok, for better or worse, is one of the most visible cultural platforms in the U.S., and queer creators are using that visibility to fight back.
ICE Raids in L.A. Spark National Outrage
Over the past week, Los Angeles has seen a surge in protests following a string of aggressive ICE raids across the city — raids that even Mayor Karen Bass called a “Trump-era experiment in fear.” The federal response has been equally extreme: President Trump deployed the National Guard and Marines in what Governor Gavin Newsom described as a “dangerous and politically motivated escalation.”
Videos show peaceful protesters being met with tear gas and rubber bullets. In a city with deep immigrant roots, the raids feel like a deliberate provocation. But where traditional media coverage lags, TikTok has stepped in.
TikTok’s Queer Creators Step Into Activist Roles
Rather than watching the violence unfold from the sidelines, queer creators on TikTok have taken it upon themselves to inform, protect, and mobilize.
Vanilla Mace Offers Street-Smart Safety Tips
Former dancer turned content creator Vanilla Mace (@vanillamace) delivered a now-viral GRWM that did more than talk outfits. She listed ICE sighting locations and gave blunt, practical advice for street protesters, including what to do if you’re hit with tear gas. “Nobody is fucking illegal on stolen land,” she reminded viewers — a message both clear and unapologetic.
Marc Sebastian’s Protest Message, in Rocks
Marc Sebastian (@marcsebastianf) — better known for luxury travel satire — posted a short, sharp protest clip. He pans to a rock formation spelling out “FUCK ICE.” The message is simple. The visual? Unforgettable. It’s activism, yes, but it’s also deeply rooted in queer history: protest with flair, and no apology.
Tefi Pessoa on Grief, Rage, and Visibility
Tefi Pessoa (@hellotefi) delivered one of the most raw responses. Unable to speak on camera without breaking down, she instead shared a powerful written message over Calle 13’s “Latinoamérica.” She called ICE “inhumane,” a group that “hunts human beings” under the guise of law. “If you think this is normal,” she wrote, “please unfollow me.” Sometimes the most effective protest is refusing to be palatable.
Legal Help and Direct Support from TikTok Itself
Michael Foote Breaks Down Your Rights
TikTok lawyer Michael Foote (@michael_foote_) offered a calm, clear, step-by-step guide for what to do if you or someone you know is detained by ICE. The post goes beyond performative outrage. It’s actionable, empowering content that can save lives — and in the age of algorithmic reach, it may already be doing just that.
Kay Poyer Shares Nationwide Organizing Details
Kay Poyer (@ladymisskay_) used her platform to amplify the No Kings Nationwide Day of Defiance, a mass protest movement happening across the country on June 14. Known for her ability to read people and systems with surgical precision, Poyer’s updates are part call-to-action, part emotional anchor for viewers who don’t want to feel helpless.
Even Tana Mongeau Showed Up (This Time for the Right Reasons)
Tana Mongeau, a figure more often associated with chaos than conscience, posted a clip pledging to donate proceeds to grassroots orgs supporting affected communities. “I can make money and give it to people who need it more than I do,” she said — a rare moment of clarity from someone often seen as the poster child for internet excess.
What Happens When Pop Culture Platforms Get Political?
This isn’t the first time social media has been used as a protest tool, but it’s rare to see it used so effectively by queer creators at scale. For many LGBTQ+ people, especially those of color, politics aren’t a choice — they’re survival. These creators aren’t hopping on a trend. They’re responding to a threat. And they’re using their influence to drag public attention where it belongs: to the violence being enacted on vulnerable communities, often in the name of law and order.
In an era where visibility is currency, TikTok isn’t just entertainment. It’s resistance.
