Transgender Day of Visibility on Monday (31 March) saw the trans and non-binary community and allies protesting against President Donald Trump’s largely anti-trans rhetoric.
His far-right promises came to fruition in the form of anti-LGBTQ+ executive orders, including banning gender-affirming healthcare for trans youth, banning trans military personnel from serving, removing trans-inclusive gender markers on passports and banning trans women and girls from participating in women’s sports.
Among the crowds participating in the Trans Day of Visibility march were Congresswoman Katherine Clark of Massachusetts and Reps. Jerry Nadler of New York, Robin Kelly of Illinois, Paul Tonko of New York, Pramila Jayapal of Washington state, and Sara Jacobs of California, as per Oregon Capital Chronicle.
Also in attendance were Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico, Frost of Florida, Val Hoyle of Oregon, Summer Lee of Pennsylvania, Jill Tokuda of Hawaii, Julie Johnson of Texas, Yassamin Ansari of Arizona, Judy Chu of California and Suhas Subramanyam of Virginia, according to the outlet.
The outlet also reported that Democratic Sens. Brian Schatz of Hawaii and Ed Markey of Massachusetts were present for the Trans Day of Visibility rally.
Frost said that Trump is using trans kids as a “scapegoat” for the wrongdoings that American citizens are facing in the country.
“In (an) even more despicable move, he’s chosen to scapegoat kids, trans kids,” he explained. “The reason you can’t pay your rent, you can’t afford health care, the reason that you have to fear gun violence, the reason that you can’t afford your grocery has nothing to do with trans people and everything to do with the billionaires and corrupt corporations that have been giving us crumbs for generations.”
Meanwhile, Lee added at the rally that the treatment of the trans community in the country is “cruel”. She said, “They are purposely targeting some of the most marginalized people in our society.”
Chu added that she fears for her trans nephew but maintained that supporters “will fight back”. She said, “I fear for what the future will hold for him as this punitive administration takes it out on trans people, but I tell you, we will fight back.”
If this story has affected you, call the Trans Lifeline Hotline to speak to a trans/nonbinary peer operator with full anonymity and confidentiality at (877) 565-8860. Support is available Monday- Friday, 10 AM – 6 PM Pacific, 11 AM – 7 PM Mountain, 12 PM – 8 PM Central, and 1 PM – 9 PM Eastern.
