Members of the Inland Empire queer and transgender neighborhood - - and some elected authorities - - marched Friday afternoon, March 31, through downtown Riverside to enhance their "goals of safety, autonomy, and joy."
The crowd, much of whom wore or carried gay pride and transgender pride flags strolled from the Back to the Grind coffeehouse to Riverside City Hall, chanting "Hey hey, ho ho, transphobia's got to go!"
March 31 has been designated as the International Transgender Day of Visibility.
Riverside's march was one of about 150 nationwide as part of the March for Queer and Trans Youth Autonomy. Other Southern California marches and occasions took place in Pomona, Santa Ana and Hollywood.
The March for Queer and Trans Youth Autonomy was arranged by Queer Youth Assemble, which led the Washington, D.C. march.
" It's time we produce among the biggest queer & & trans youth marches in history!" its site states. "Uniting every queer & & trans young adult under the common goals of delight, autonomy, and security."
The groups' demands include modifications to state and federal legislation, with a concentrate on policies in schools, sports, work environments and healthcare. Some of the crucial products consist of:
- Passing the federal Equality Act
- Changing Title IX to "consist of sexuality, gender identity, and gender expression"
- Ratifying the Equality Amendment
- Creating additional school policies and curriculum to support LGBTQ+ students
- Allowing transgender professional athletes to take part on sports groups corresponding with their identity
- The repeal of state anti-sodomy laws and state constitutional amendments prohibiting same-sex unions
- Creation of "a federal law safeguarding queer & & trans individuals's rights and safety in the work environment"
- Formation of "an LGBTQ+ legislative group to recommend lawmakers on legislation"
The march comes throughout a troubled era for queer and trans rights.
The American Civil Liberties Union is presently tracking 435 anti-LGBTQ bills in the U.S., consisting of California's Assembly Bill 1314, which would need schools to alert moms and dads or guardians if their student recognizes as a gender various than the sex noted on their authorities records. That expense is authored by Republican Assemblymember Bill Essayli, who represents parts of western
Riverside County. A variety of expenses relating to queer and trans rights have actually passed in other states this year.
Riverside's march was organized by the not-for-profit
Riverside LGBTQ+ Pride.
" We wanted to join in, across the nation, to actually fight all of the anti-LGBTQ legislation," said Brock Cavett, the group's advocacy director.
Speakers included Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes, D-
Riverside;
Riverside City Councilmember Erin Edwards and Rep. Mark Takano, D-
Riverside.
Edwards,
Riverside's very first freely LGBTQ councilmember, stated prior to the march that it was very important for queer and trans homeowners to understand they're valued.
" So numerous individuals in this city have actually worked so hard to guarantee the rights of everybody in the LGBTQ+ neighborhood," Edwards said Thursday, March 30. "It's events like tomorrow's that keep the neighborhood noticeable."
Edwards said that she is dealing with Scott Watson, the city's historic conservation officer, and others on an LGBTQ+ context statement for
Riverside.
" It records the history of whatever topic that it's focused on, and produces eligibility standards for historical conservation," Watson stated.
The declaration will consider different individuals, locations and occasions that are historical to the LGBTQ+ community in
Riverside, Watson said.
A separate event in
Washington D.C., the Trans Day of Vengeance, was cancelled because of what organizers called a "trustworthy threat to life and safety" in the wake of the Monday, March 27, Tennessee shooting.
Riverside resident Ayla Kerrigan, a member of the trans neighborhood, offered to provide first-aid at the march.
" As you can see, there's no violence here, nobody counter opposing, so it appears pretty positive," Kerrigan said. "It's absolutely altered from when I was young, we didn't have a great deal of pride stuff when I was young."
Pomona's march, which was arranged by the Pomona Pride Center, went from the center to Pomona City Hall.
Frank Guzman, the group's president and executive director, said that while LGBTQ+ Californians are "a little bit more lucky" than homeowners of some other states, the recent rise in anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments was hitting closer to house.
" It opens a door for more to come," he said. "And so we need to be prepared, and need to combat it right off the bat."
Takano talked about the importance of supporting the trans community due to "extreme conservative MAGA attacks."
"Its essential to press back and draw the line, and state that we can not stabilize this extremism," he stated.
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