Trump Can't Erase Them
Those of the LGBTQ community are the latest group being targeted by the Trump Administration, as a policy focusing on establishing a legal definition of sex at birth is underway, as reported by the New York Times over the weekend. This led to hundreds of trans-rights supporters organizing protests in cities across the country.
TransLatina Coalition held a rally that gathered hundreds of trans-rights supporters and advocates at the front lawn of Los Angeles’ City Hall in downtown on Monday, October 22. The events Facebook page, Defining Our Lives: Angelenos Response to Transphobia, stated: “Trump is again planning a dangerous attack against our community on a federal level. But, like we always have, we are going to fight back for the rights and respect that we deserve. Trans and gender non-conforming people are deserving of equal treatment to those that are cisgender and we must stop being defined as 'other' or mentally ill.”
According to the New York Times, the Trump administrations consideration of narrowly defining gender goes directly against decisions made by the Obama administration that, “loosened the legal concept of gender in federal programs, including in education and health care, recognizing gender largely as an individual’s choice and not determined by the sex assigned at birth.”
Trans rights supporters stood amongst one another in the crowd filled with those holding protest signs and transgender pride flags. “I stand in front of you in my womanhood, in my trans-ness, unafraid. And no one will ever fucking erase me,” said TransLatina’s president, Bamby Salcedo. The protest allowed space for dozens of others to speak on the issue of trans-rights, such as Jasmine Harem.
“We’re doing what needs to be done on a daily basis, not just for yourself, but for your community and for the world at large. And I say to Donald Trump, how dare you, we ain’t going anywhere,” said Harem.
As the event came to a close, Salcedo walked back up to the top of the stairs to give the crowd a closing statement. "So thank you so much for your presence, but what we need to do is not just to come here and say that we are supporters of what needs to happen. There's tangible shit that needs to happen, and all of us can make it happen. We are going to strategize what we need to do to combat the oppression that we continue to experience," said Salcedo. "So, stay tuned cause we are going to lead the charge of what needs to happen."