No Kings, Just Love
In a state with a painful history of discrimination and a continuing struggle for equality, Steve and KP discovered something powerful: Hate may be loud, but love has a way of showing up even louder.
There are places in America where history isn't just something you read about in textbooks. It's something you can feel. It's woven into the streets, the communities, the struggles, and the stories of the people who call those places home. Jackson, Mississippi, is one of those places.
Mississippi has been at the center of some of America's darkest chapters involving racism, segregation, violence, and the fight for civil rights. And today, the state continues to wrestle with difficult questions about equality, religious freedom, LGBTQIA+ rights, and who deserves to feel safe and accepted.
But on October 17, the Do Something Tour witnessed another side of Mississippi.
A side filled with courage. A side filled with compassion. And most importantly, a side filled with people who refuse to give up on one another. From the steps of the Mississippi State Capitol to a colorful celebration of LGBTQIA+ pride, Steve and KP experienced a day that captured exactly why this documentary journey matters.
No Thrones. No Crowns. No Kings.
The day began at the Mississippi State Capitol, where residents gathered for the nationwide No Kings movement. Across the country, Americans were organizing to defend democratic principles, challenge abuses of power, and remind elected officials that public office is a responsibility to the people, not a throne from which to rule them.
In Jackson, the October 17th gathering also emphasized voter participation and the importance of protecting the democratic process. And right there, among the people standing up for their beliefs, was our very own Steve Dodge.
Then something special happened. Steve was invited to speak to the crowd.
For a man who set out on this journey to listen to the voices of everyday Americans, being asked to share his own voice was a meaningful moment. The Do Something Tour has never been about telling people what to think. It's about encouraging people to think, listen, ask questions, challenge injustice, and recognize their power to create change.
Standing in Mississippi, a state that played such an important role in the American civil rights movement, the significance of that mission was impossible to ignore. Decades ago, courageous Americans risked their livelihoods, their freedom, and sometimes their lives for the right to vote and be treated equally. Today, protecting those hard-won freedoms is the responsibility of all of us.
Democracy doesn't defend itself. People do. Sometimes, doing something starts with simply standing up and refusing to be silent.
Here are some images from Jackson's No King's Protest on 10/17/26.
From No Kings to Pride, Y'all!
After the rally, Steve and KP continued their journey through Jackson, attending It's Pride, Y'all!, the annual LGBTQIA+ celebration organized by MS Capital City Pride at the Mississippi Museum of Art.
And what a beautiful contrast to the stereotypes so often associated with Mississippi!
Rainbows. Music. Laughter. Families. Friends. Allies. Community organizations. People of different backgrounds, identities, and generations coming together for one simple reason:
To celebrate the freedom to be themselves.
In a state where LGBTQIA+ residents continue to face significant political and social challenges, seeing so many people openly supporting the community was extraordinary. Mississippi is not always an easy place to be openly LGBTQIA+. Conservative social attitudes, discriminatory history, and ongoing debates over LGBTQIA+ protections can make visibility and acceptance especially meaningful.
But here were people refusing to allow that history or those challenges to define their future.
There were people proudly displaying rainbow flags. People embracing one another. People celebrating their identities without apology. And perhaps most beautifully, there were allies showing up simply because they believe that everyone deserves dignity, respect, and the freedom to love. For every person who has ever been told they don't belong, this festival delivered a powerful message: You do.
It was a reminder that Mississippi is not a monolith. Its people do not all share the same beliefs, prejudices, or politics. There are incredible communities throughout the state working tirelessly to create a more welcoming, inclusive future. And on this particular day, their love was impossible to miss.
When Hate Shows Up, Love Doesn't Have to Back Down
Of course, not everyone came to celebrate. A counterprotest was also present, offering a stark reminder that the fight for LGBTQIA+ acceptance is far from over.
And Steve? Well, let's just say he had a few things to say about that.
Throughout the Do Something Tour, Steve has made it clear that he believes in listening to people, including those with whom he disagrees. But listening to another person's opinion does not mean remaining silent when that opinion challenges someone else's dignity or right to exist openly. There is a fundamental difference between having religious beliefs and expecting everyone else to live according to them. Freedom of religion is a constitutional right. So is freedom of expression. That means counterprotesters have a right to voice their beliefs, just as LGBTQIA+ Americans have a right to gather, celebrate, and live authentically.
But someone's religious freedom does not give them ownership over another person's life. And that's a conversation worth having. Because if your message is supposed to be about faith, compassion, and morality, shouldn't kindness be part of the equation?
If you believe in loving your neighbor, shouldn't that include the neighbor who happens to be gay, transgender, bisexual, or simply different from you? If someone else's happiness, identity, or relationship doesn't harm you, why should you feel compelled to protest their existence?
Steve has never struggled to find his voice, especially when people are being marginalized.
And this encounter was another reminder of why he and KP are traveling across America in the first place. Not every important conversation is comfortable.
Sometimes, doing something means speaking up when remaining silent would be easier.
Two Events. One Powerful Message.
At first glance, a No Kings rally and an LGBTQIA+ Pride festival might seem like two very different events.
One focuses on democracy and political accountability. The other celebrates identity, community, and acceptance. But to Steve and KP, they represented something remarkably similar: People showing up. People refusing to be invisible. People exercising their constitutional freedoms. People choosing courage over complacency. And people reminding the world that meaningful change begins when ordinary individuals decide they will no longer sit on the sidelines.
That is the heart of the Do Something Tour.
We didn't embark on this journey because we believed America was hopeless. We embarked on it because we believe America is worth fighting for. And because we know that behind every divisive headline, every angry political debate, and every attempt to separate Americans into opposing camps, there are people doing extraordinary things to bring their communities together. Sometimes those stories don't make national headlines.
That's why we're here to tell them.
Thank You, Jackson. You Reminded Us What Love Looks Like.
To the organizers and attendees of the No Kings gathering, thank you for standing up, participating, and reminding everyone that democracy requires action. To MS Capital City Pride and everyone who made Pride, Y'all! possible, thank you for creating a place where people could celebrate openly and feel that they belonged.
To the LGBTQIA+ community of Mississippi, thank you for your courage, resilience, authenticity, and determination to build a more inclusive future. And to every ally who showed up simply to stand beside another human being, thank you. You may never know how much your presence means to someone who has spent their life feeling unwelcome, misunderstood, or afraid. You were the light in a place where too many people have experienced darkness.
Steve and KP came to Jackson looking for stories. They found something even more meaningful. Hope. And if there's one thing this journey continues to teach us, it's that hope isn't found in politicians, political parties, or promises. It's found in people. People who stand up. People who speak out. People who show up for others. People who choose love, even when hate is standing just across the street.
No kings. No hate. No exceptions to human dignity.
Just people.
Just community.
Just love.
And a whole lot of reasons to believe that a better America is still possible.
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Even in the darkest times, beauty still exists.
Be the Light. Do Something.
Love to see Steve Dirty Dancing!