Marching for transgender rights
By
NORTHAMPTON, Mass.—More than 70 activists congregated in Lampron Park here on October 11 for the New England Trans United march.
The first Trans United march was held last year, after protection for transgender people was dropped from the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). This year's march was organized by New England Trans Unity with the goal of uniting diverse transgender and gender-variant communities and allies.
The march also focused on accumulating support for the passage of House Bill (HB) 1728, "An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes," and Connecticut HB 6452, "An Act Concerning Discrimination," among other non-discrimination and anti-hate crimes legislation pending in New England states. In addition, march organizers aim to encourage support for the passage of a transgender-inclusive ENDA and to foster the self-determination of all transgender and gender-variant peoples as expressed in the International Bill of Gender Rights.
The theme of the march, "Live Out Loud," was expressed by Miss Trans New England. "We're here and we're not going to hide anymore. We're your brothers and sisters," said Lorelei McLaughlin. McLaughlin commented on right-wing attempts to vilify the transgender community in order to disrupt the passage of HB 1728. Some opponents are referring to the bill as the "bathroom bill," implying that allowing transgender people to use gender-appropriate restrooms would be a threat to public safety, and might lead to rape in public restrooms or locker rooms.
The march was a direct attempt to actively inform the public of the legal and social discrimination affecting transgender people and to undermine this disturbing propaganda. Bet Power, a member of the steering committee for the march and the founder of East Coast FTM, explained that the march was a grassroots movement. Power stated that he doesn't have basic rights under the law, and that actively educating the public and extending HB 1728 to the entire state is essential.
Organizations present at the march included Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, UNITY, the Sunshine Club, Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition and the International Socialist Organization. The march began at noon and wound through the streets of Northampton, with marchers chanting "Hey, hey. Ho, ho! Transphobia has got to go," "Money for hormones and education, not for wars and occupation!" and "Civil rights under attack. What do we do? Stand up! Fight back!" People driving by honked and gave marchers "thumbs up" and the occasional fist.
This powerful New England Trans United March, along with the National Equality March in Washington, D.C., occurred at an important time--in the wake of an alleged hate crime against a transgender individual by security forces at liberal Hampshire College in Amherst, Mass. Friends of the victim attended the march and handed out pamphlets that outlined the attack.
As the pamphlet stated:
I can't honestly believe that you could feel safe, no matter who or what you are, when someone has been treated so brutally and disrespectfully by the law enforcement of this valley, our valley, the place where you and I, the other writers of this 'zine, your coworkers, students, teachers, friends, the people you see on the bus...all live. If one person here was treated so viciously, then how can any of us know that we're really safe?
