LOS ANGELES — Championing President Biden’s support for the LGBTQ community and women’s health, First Lady Jill Biden took a swing through Southern California over the weekend, amid dueling protests over the president’s handling of the Middle East conflict.

Almost as soon as she landed in Los Angeles, Biden faced protesters, who stood outside the Hancock Park home where she held a Friday night fundraiser, carrying posters of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas and chanting, “Bring them home.”

The next day, protesters supporting Palestinians stood outside the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel, where Biden was scheduled to speak, holding up signs calling for a cease-fire and condemning the Human Rights Campaign for taking funding from companies they deemed responsible for genocide.

It wasn’t long before a protest erupted behind the hotel doors, too. Just after Biden began speaking to a crowd of LGBTQ leaders and allies, a loud voice cried out, “Dr. Biden, I’m a queer Jew calling for immediate and permanent cease-fire.” Soon, others unfurled banners and began chanting, “Cease fire now.”

Their calls were soon drowned out by a dueling chant: “Four more years.”

The first lady stood at the lectern, her lips pursed in a small, tight smile, while security guards escorted and, in at least one case, dragged protesters out. Once the room was emptied of chanting, Biden began again.

“Good evening, everyone,” she said, to laughter and applause. “I have to say, you really look fabulous!”

“It’s not a great feeling to be part of something that’s getting protested,” said Sylvie Shiell-Loomis, 23, of the protesters outside the hotel. “I think that they have the right intentions. I think it’s kind of misguided. … We’re all gathered here for the same reason that they’re gathered. They want human rights.”

Jacob Tobia said they are usually among the protesters disrupting the event. But they chose to attend the Human Rights Campaign dinner, wearing a Palestinian flag draped from their shoulder. Once they saw the speaker list, Tobia thought, “Well, I’m at least gonna have to wear a little something.”

“I think it’s vital that as a queer and trans movement, we are able to hold political tension internally within our own movement,” Tobia said. “And that looks like being really clear about where you stand on issues like genocide.”

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