(Photo by Gary Raynaldo / ©Diplomatic Times ) Rally in San Francisco, California as part of a Transgender Day of Visibility in support of the rights of transgender people March 31, 2023.
By Gary Raynaldo – DIPLOMATIC TIMES CORRESPONDENT
SAN FRANCISCO – More than 100 supporters of transgender rights rallied in San Francisco Friday. They were among the thousands across the country who took to the streets in what they called a March 31 Day of Visibility to defend transgender people. There are more than 1.6 million trans youth (age 13+) and adults across the United States, according to Human Rights Campaign. Trans Day of Visibility is an annual event occurring on March 31 that began in 2009 and is dedicated to celebrating transgender people and raising awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide, as well as a celebration of their contributions to society. The San Francisco rally held at Civic Center Plaza across from City Hall was organized by the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration & Immigrant Rights, and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary (BAMN) Multiple bills sponsored by Trump supported Republican politicians have been introduced in several states across the country seeking to ban transgender bathrooms and gender affirming medical care for minors.
“The bigoted leaders of the Trump movement dream of living in a rigid, unchanging world that is white and straight-male centered, based on the subordination of minorities to white people, of women to men, and of children to adult authorities. LGBT+ rights and relationships are a direct threat to this reactionary fantasy”
-BAMN
(Photo by Gary Raynaldo / ©Diplomatic Times ) Rally in San Francisco, California as part of a Transgender Day of Visibility in support of the rights of transgender people March 31, 2023.
According to BAMN, the flurry of Republican anti-LGBT+ laws “have emboldened young gay and transgender youth to build the new gay and transgender rights movement in the same way that the homophobic New York police repression on the LGBT+ community led to the Stonewall Rebellion.”
DIPLOMATIC TIMES VIDEO / Rally in San Francisco, California as part of a Transgender Day of Visibility in support of the rights of transgender people March 31, 2023.
(Photo by Gary Raynaldo / ©Diplomatic Times ) Rally in San Francisco, California as part of a Transgender Day of Visibility in support of the rights of transgender people March 31, 2023.
“Protect Trans Kids” – “Fight For Trans Kids”
(Photo by Gary Raynaldo / ©Diplomatic Times ) A participant at rally in San Francisco, California on Transgender Day of Visibility holds placard calling for the protection of Trans Kids March 31, 2023.
Trans activists believe the Far-Right has declared war on trans youth. Teachers are being asked to report transgender children and their families to child welfare authorities and providers have cut off healthcare. In several states, transgender girls are barred from female sports.
“Trans Rights Are Human Rights!”
(Photo by Gary Raynaldo / ©Diplomatic Times ) A participant at rally in San Francisco, California on Transgender Day of Visibility with placard on back declares Trans Rights Are Human Rights! March 31, 2023.
The Transgender Day of Visibility supporters believe trans rights are human rights. On Thursday, U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and Representatives Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Mark Takano (CA-39), and David Cicilline (RI-01) re-introduced the Transgender Bill of Rights amidst “unprecedented attacks on trans rights.” The resolution provides “a comprehensive policy framework to provide protections for transgender and nonbinary people, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their gender identity or expression.” The Trans Bill of Rights calls on the federal government to provide protections for transgender and nonbinary people.
(Photo by Gary Raynaldo / ©Diplomatic Times ) Rally in San Francisco, California as part of a Transgender Day of Visibility in support of the rights of transgender people March 31, 2023.
