Transgender Visibility March for Washington Blade by Michael Key

GLAAD was proud to support, sponsor and join the The National Transgender Visibility March in Washington D.C. on September 28, 2019. The historic and first of its kind march and rally began in Freedom Plaza commencing at 9:00am, followed by a march along Pennsylvania Avenue, ending four blocks from the U.S. Capitol building. According to the Washington Blade, between 1,500 and 3,000 people attended the event.

Reverend Valerie Spencer kicked off the speakers before handing off to Emcees media advocate Tiq Milan and Democratic Delegate Mia Satya. Among the speakers for the event were activists Apyphanie Dawn, Kole Tondrik, Earline Budd, Lynn Morrison, and Ashlee Marie Preston; CEO of Trans Latin@ Coalition Bamby Salcedo; CEO of Freedom for All Americans Masen Davis; Deputy Executive Director for Policy and Action Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen; Founder of Black Trans Men Inc. Carter Brown; Congressional delegate for Washington DC.. Eleanor Holmes; President of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce Justin Nelson; Human Rights Campaign Chairwoman Jodie Patterson; Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David, and model/founder of Gender Proud Geena Rocero. Actress and TransTech Social Enterprises Founder Angelica Ross delivered the keynote address.

During the program, Sheila Alexander-Reid, director of D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Office of LGBTQ affairs, declared September 28, 2019 Transgender Visibility Day in Washington D.C. 

Speakers drew attention to the 19 reported incidents of anti-trans violence that the American Medical Association (AMA) has declared an epidemic of violence with trans women of color being the predominant targets of these killings. At least one more Black trans woman has been reported killed since the march last week. 

Speakers Davis and Heng-Lehtinen conextualized the higher rates of discrimination that trans people face in employment and housing opportunities while allies Patterson and David spoke to the need for more organizations and allies to step up and support the trans community. Keynote speaker Angelica Ross reflected on her years of experience of advocacy before her acting career accelerated with FX’s POSE and challenged the crowd to action: lift up each other’s voices and share the microphone.

Photos from the National Transgender Visibility March:

For more information about the National Transgender Visibility March: transmarchondc.org/

Credit: ABC/Nightline

Yesterday, ABC’s Nightline aired a powerful special edition called “Am I Next? Trans and Targeted,” featuring in-depth reporting by co-anchor Juju Chang on the transgender community in the United States. The segment spotlights the dangerous trends of violence and discrimination that disproportionately affects trans women of color, as well as how media covers and portrays the trans community.

Trans actress and advocate Dominique Jackson, who stars in FX’s POSE, joined Juju Chang in studio as a guest, making her the first Black trans woman to present part of Nightline.

At a time when violence against trans women is often underreported, Nightline and Chang went beyond discussions of hate crimes, to give a voice to the friends, family, and other community members impacted by anti-transgender violence.

The special starts with the case of Muhlaysia Booker, as told by her close friends. Muhlaysia spoke up after being attacked in Dallas earlier this year by individuals who hurled transphobic slurs. Muhlaysia was tragically murdered only a couple weeks after her public statement.

“Muhlaysia was somebody’s sister,” Jazmine Deamon told Nightline. “Muhlaysia was somebody’s daughter… Somebody’s loved one. Muhlaysia Booker was human. She wanted to live like everybody else.”

Muhlaysia is one of at least 19 known transgender people to be killed by hate violence in 2019, with 18 of the murders being trans women of color.

The Nightline segment also features Monica Roberts, a gifted writer and advocate in Texas. Through her site Transgriot, Monica works to ensure trans victims of violence are reported on fairly and accurately.

Chang also interviewed local members of the trans community in Washington, D.C., including Ruby Corado, who helps countless local LGBTQ people and runs Casa Ruby, an organization that shelters and serves the community.