Trans March Slated for DC September 28
Weekend of events expected to draw thousands; HRC prez, “Pose” star to speak
BY MATT TRACY
Thousands of people are
preparing to travel to the
nation’s capital September
27-29 for a weekend
full of events for the fi rst National
Trans Visibility March on DC .
Advocates organized the September
28 march and related events to
raise awareness about the plight of
transgender folks during a time of
heightened violence against trans
women of color and an all-out assault
on LGBTQ rights during the
Trump administration.
“We are marching in solidarity
in support of the passing of
the Equality Act and inclusion for
the Trans community,” Marissa
Miller, the event’s national organizing
director, said in a written
statement. “We encourage all to
#March4TransEquality while demanding
justice for those whose
lives were taken through senseless
acts of violence and murders.”
Though the march is free to attend,
organizers request a $25 donation,
which comes with a T-shirt
and other items, according to the
event registration page . Organizers
say that at least 4,000 people have
already registered.
The day of activism on September
28 will begin at 9 a.m. with an
Equality Rally at Freedom Plaza,
at the corner of 14th Street and
Pennsylvania Avenue NW near
Pershing Park. The rally will feature
prominent speakers, including
“Pose” star Angelica Ross and
Human Rights Campaign president
Alphonso David.
Following the rally, the march
is tentatively scheduled to begin
at 11 a.m., traveling from Freedom
Plaza to Third Street, though the
exact location on Third Street and
details about the route have not
been announced.
Organizers have outlined eight
policy points they plan to highlight
that day. The leaders are most
prominently calling for a “state of
emergency” in response to the 19
known trans women who have
died violent deaths this year, while
also demanding the passage of the
comprehensive nondiscrimination
legislation known as the Equality
Act and the scrapping of the trans
military ban. They also seek to reinstitute
Obamacare nondiscrimination
protections and an Obamaera
guidance for trans kids in
schools, block a proposed rule out
of the Department of Housing and
Urban Development that would
deny access to homeless shelters
based on a person’s gender identity,
stop the over-policing of trans
women, and put an end to the mistreatment
of trans people in immigration
custody.
POLITICS
There will be a post-march celebration
from 1 to 6 p.m. at the
Trade bar at 1410 14th Street NW.
The march is just one component
of a broad slate of festivities
throughout the weekend.
On September 27 — one day
before the march — folks can participate
in activist trainings in addition
to a panel discussion about
the movement to decriminalize sex
work and a credit and fi nancial
management workshop, among
other events. That Friday evening
at 7 p.m., advocates whose work
has impacted the lives of trans,
gender nonconforming, and nonbinary
people will be honored at
the Torch Awards, though that
event is invite-only.
The weekend’s events wrap up
on Sunday afternoon with an Empowerment
Service at Community
Church of Washington, D.C. at
1405 15th Street NW.
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