'Visibility isn't enough,' Los Angeles activists say at march for transgender rights

A wave of anti-transgender legislation sweeping the nation triggered queer activists and allies to organize "Trans Day of Revenge," a protest throughout the nationally recognized Trans Day of Visibility on Friday, March 31.

" Transphobia has got to go!" activists screamed, waving flags and indications while marching down Hollywood Boulevard, as honking cars and trucks drove by.

With growing attacks and discriminatory legislation growing, a minimum of 200 activists on Friday marched to demand safety and equality for this community, especially susceptible trans and queer youth - - a number of whom are targeted in current costs, ranging from restroom expenses, to drag show and trans athlete bans. The march in Hollywood accompanied Trans Day of Visibility events from the Inland Empire to the coastal L.A. location to Orange County.


< img alt=" Activists gathered at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland ..." class =" lazyload size-article_inline" data-sizes =" auto "data-src =" https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-07.jpg?w=620" data-srcset =" https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-07.jpg?w=620 620w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-07.jpg?w=780 780w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-07.jpg?w=810 810w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-07.jpg?w=1280 1280w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-07.jpg?w=1860 1860w" > Activists gathered at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue to oppose anti-trans hate, in Los Angeles on Friday, March 31, 2023.

Demonstrators brought indications and noted off needs and action items during the protest to coincides with International Trans Day of Visibility.( Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer). < img alt=" Activists collected at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland ..." class=" lazyload size-article_inline" data-sizes=" vehicle" data-src=" https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-05.jpg?w=620" data-srcset=" https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-05.jpg?w=620 620w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-05.jpg?w=780 780w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-05.jpg?w=810 810w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-05.jpg?w=1280 1280w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-05.jpg?w=1860 1860w" > Activists collected at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue to protest anti-trans hate, in Los Angeles on Friday, March 31, 2023. Demonstrators brought indications and listed off needs and action products throughout the demonstration to accompanies International Trans Day of Visibility.( Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer). Activists gathered at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue to object anti-trans hate, in Los Angeles on Friday, March 31, 2023. Demonstrators carried signs and listed off demands and action products throughout the protest to coincides with International Trans Day of Visibility.( Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer ). < img alt=" Activists gathered at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland ..." class=

" lazyload size-article_inline" data-sizes =" automobile" data-src=" https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-06.jpg?w=620" data-srcset=" https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-06.jpg?w=620 620w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-06.jpg?w=780 780w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-06.jpg?w=810 810w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-06.jpg?w=1280 1280w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-06.jpg?w=1860 1860w" > Activists collected at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue to object anti-trans hate, in Los Angeles on Friday, March 31, 2023. Demonstrators carried signs and listed off demands and action products throughout the demonstration to accompanies International Trans Day of Visibility.( Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer). < img alt=" Activists collected at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland ..." class =" lazyload size-article_inline" data-sizes=" auto" data-src=" https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-01-1.jpg?w=620" data-srcset=" https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-01-1.jpg?w=620 620w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-01-1.jpg?w=780 780w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-01-1.jpg?w=810 810w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-01-1.jpg?w=1280 1280w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-01-1.jpg?w=1860 1860w" > Activists collected at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue to oppose anti-trans hate, in Los Angeles on Friday, March 31, 2023. Demonstrators brought indications and listed off demands and action items during the protest to accompanies International Trans Day of Visibility.( Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer). < img alt=" Activists collected at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland ..." class =" lazyload size-article_inline" data-sizes=" auto" data-src=" https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-04.jpg?w=620" data-srcset=" https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-04.jpg?w=620 620w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-04.jpg?w=780 780w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-04.jpg?w=810 810w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-04.jpg?w=1280 1280w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-04.jpg?w=1860 1860w" > Activists gathered at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue to oppose anti-trans hate, in Los Angeles on Friday, March 31, 2023. Demonstrators carried indications and listed off needs and action items during the demonstration to accompanies International Trans Day of Visibility.( Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer). < img alt=" Activists collected at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland ..." class =" lazyload size-article_inline" data-sizes=" automobile" data-src=" https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-03.jpg?w=620" data-srcset=" https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-03.jpg?w=620 620w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-03.jpg?w=780 780w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-03.jpg?w=810 810w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-03.jpg?w=1280 1280w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-03.jpg?w=1860 1860w" > Activists gathered at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue to object anti-trans hate, in Los Angeles on Friday, March 31, 2023. Demonstrators brought indications and noted off needs and action products during the protest to accompanies International Trans Day of Visibility.( Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer). Show Caption of. Expand. Marliese Hegele found Friday's Hollywood occasion through TikTok, where queer material developers had
been promoting local, state and nationwide demonstrations.

" I simply wanted to show support for my neighborhood. I indicate, there's hundreds of anti-trans legislation costs being proposed, even in states that you would

believe would be safe, "Hegele stated. "And then there's in fact ones that are horrific that are going through and being passed. And it's really, it's really frightening.". The march started on the corner of Highland and Hollywood in Los Angeles. Protecting the crowd were community members who wore all-black garb, blocking their faces. Their goal was to secure the protesters, watching out for violent opposition. While there were some cops present, the community-led security helped protect the identity of protesters, especially youth, by blocking observers with cameras with signs

and umbrellas. Leading up to Friday's demonstration, President Joe Biden formally recognized the motion in a proclamation on Thursday, March 30. California legislators likewise recognized as Trans Visibility Week

with several events at the Capitol. A self-proclaimed" craftivist" called KoKo distributed self-protection items that she made from resin. "The polices aren't here to keep us safe … they're not gon na stand here and ensure that we're not being assaulted, "she stated at the march." Trans people are not people to be frightened of.

". In 2022, most of transgender and gender non-conforming people killed were transgender females, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Transgender individuals of color accounted for most of victims, over 76%, with Black transgender people representing a plurality (19, or over 56 %). Ronnie DeVreux had tears in his eyes, watching his hubby Thaddeus join the crowd of organizers in the street. Both are trans." All my cis( gender) friends, all my cis workers, everyone, are completely in happiness," he stated. "They're not aware of anything that's going on. They don't know how much discomfort I'm in. ".

Trans Day of Visibility was originally established in 2009 by trans activist Rachel Crandall-Crocker, the existing head of advocacy group Transgender Michigan. Since its development more than a years earlier, occasions have actually grown in popularity to honor the death of trans activists, commemorate the lives of trans folks, and raise awareness of ongoing violence and discrimination. The" Trans Day of Vengeance" moniker originated from a meme that had actually remained in the trans neighborhood for years. Activists say it is a" more radical" take on the same scenarios, one that is extremely critical of pacifism towards state terrorism, hatred towards transgender individuals and respectability politics. Ahead of the nationwide event, Twitter removed more than 5,000 tweets and retweets of a poster promoting the Washington D.C." Trans Day of Vengeance "rally staged Friday, which was later on canceled due to security concerns for those included. In a tweet, Ella Irwin, Twitter's head of Trust and Safety, pointed out that the poster's verbiage" incites violence." But on its website, organizers said it does not excuse violence, and in a statement strongly rejected any connection in between the shooting at a school in Nashville and the planned protest." Vengeance suggests fighting back with vehemence," the D.C. demonstration's organizers composed on their website." We are battling versus incorrect narratives, criminalization, and elimination of our existence.". According to a 2023 anti-trans bills tracker published on translegislation.com, there are 489 bills in 47 states. Since this reporting, 421 are active as 25 have passed and 43 have actually failed. In 2022, 26 costs of the 174 expenses proposed (15%) passed, the majority of which target trans and queer youth. The costs targets vary from constraint from access of gender affirming care and security (such as restroom expenses), drag reveal bans and trans athlete
restrictions." We refuse to live in fear. We decline to be gotten rid of," specified the rally's call to action published on a queer activist Instagram. The term elimination was utilized by a far

right Daily Wire commentator, Michael Knowles, throughout a Conservative Political Action Committee event in early March. Knowles has actually formerly specified that genocide against Transgender individuals is not possible because "they are not a legitimate classification of being.". The transgender community has actually constantly been threatened with violence, but activists forecast that the onslaught of anti transgender legislation perpetuates violence.< img alt =" Jehonathan Jones and Zo Woodard from Long Beach at the ..." class=" lazyload size-article_inline" data-sizes=" vehicle "data-src=" https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-03-1.jpg?w=620" data-srcset=" https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-03-1.jpg?w=620 620w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-03-1.jpg?w=780 780w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-03-1.jpg?w=810 810w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-03-1.jpg?w=1280 1280w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-03-1.jpg?w=1860 1860w" > Jehonathan Jones and Zo Woodard from Long Beach at the Trans Day of Visibility Resource Fair, held at Bixby Park on Friday, March 31, 2023.( Photo by Christina Merino, SCNG). < img alt=" The Trans Day of Visibility Resource Fair, held Friday, March ... "class =" lazyload size-article_inline" data-sizes =" car "data-src=" https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-02-1.jpg?w=620" data-srcset =" https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-02-1.jpg?w=620 620w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-02-1.jpg?w=780 780w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-02-1.jpg?w=810 810w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-02-1.jpg?w=1280 1280w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-02-1.jpg?w=1860 1860w" > The Trans Day of Visibility Resource Fair, held Friday, March 31 at Bixby Park in Long Beach, had booths, music, free HIV and STI screening and other resources.( Photo by Christina Merino, SCNG). < img alt=" The LGBTQ Center of Long Beach was among the ... "class=" lazyload size-article_inline "data-sizes=" vehicle" data-src =" https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-01-1-1.jpg?w=620" data-srcset=" https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-01-1-1.jpg?w=620 620w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-01-1-1.jpg?w=780 780w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-01-1-1.jpg?w=810 810w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-01-1-1.jpg?w=1280 1280w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LDN-L-TRANS-VENGENCE-0401-01-1-1.jpg?w=1860 1860w" > The LGBTQ Center of Long Beach was among the many resource cubicles at the Trans Day of Visibility Resource Fair, held at Bixby Park on Friday, March 31, 2023.( Photo by Christina Merino, SCNG). Show Caption of. Broaden
. On Friday, other community occasions acknowledging Trans Day of Visibility were held in downtown Riverside, Long Beach, Pomona and Santa Ana. Pomona's march, which was organized by the Pomona Pride Center

, went from the center to Pomona City Hall.

Frank Guzman, the groups' president and executive director, stated that while LGBTQ+ Californians are" a little more fortunate "than locals of some other states, the recent rise in anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments was hitting closer to home." It opens a door for more to come," he said.

While numerous renowned, others desire their message to be heard loud and clear: that" trans rights are human rights
.". Bree Serrano, an adjunct professors in ethnic and females studies at Cal Poly Pomona, said that
this latest wave of anti-transgender legislation will bring more queer people individuals seek look for in parts of the West - including in California." This is going to ban trans kids from becoming grownups," they stated.