LA March for Trans Liberation 08/18
Yesterday in Los Angeles close to a hundred people marched in support of trans women and gender non conforming peoples organizing for their lives against violence and recently reported murders. The march started off with a rally at Mariachi Plaza where speakers touched on the many ways in which trans women of color particularly face uncertain futures. This is due to high rates of targeted and deadly violence, poverty, lack of adequate health access, and quick-to-escalate harassment. All heightened when it comes to trans women that also face ableism, institutional racism, interpersonal anti blackness, imprisonment, or deportation.
Photo by Ezak Perez
The march winded its way down 1st street, pausing briefly at opportune moments to hold space and exclaim “TRANS POWER!” and “When trans lives are under attack, what do we do? Stand up Fight Back”. It was an intentional march “not a celebration” as noted by Jennicet Gutierrez, who is now known for her disruption of the white house Pride public relations event. Set against the backdrop of a sunset over Downtown’s skyscrapers, the march made its way through little Tokyo and attracted a small police presence.
In the space carved out at the intersection of 1st and Main st. there was a moment of silence and a die-in to commemorate the recent lives taken violently at the hands of transmisogyny. This was followed by chants of “the cops and the klan are anti-trans!” before the march concluded with a circle at the corner of City Hall park. Trans women filled the center, sharing their needs, desires, fears and pain and calling for others to challenge transphobia and white supremacy on the daily. As well as Bamby Salcedo reminding the group that “we have power” and can grow the movement to “shut the city down”. https://www.facebook.com/yesenia.valdez.756/videos/791887460930863/ The call out for the rally and march explained why direct, public and visible actions in support of trans women are needed: “Eighteen trans women have been murdered in 2015, and the year is not even over. Our community is getting killed! Just this past week, two of our sisters have been killed. We are gathering to honor our trans sisters who have been murdered and to show our discontent to the continuous violence that trans people continue to endure.
Trans women of color are dying at astonishing rates. Our community is in a state of emergency and we must take action now. It’s time to take to the streets and demand an end to the murders of trans women, especially black and brown trans women whose safety is never guaranteed.”
Transfemme revolt agitator Edxie said, “No justice. Just us! There is trauma that doesn’t allow trans womn and gender non conforming femmes of color to often be, to love, to live. Your normal is our hell on earth. But then we go to hell, right? How many trans womn of color have to die before you actively oppose the State and these inherently colonial institutions that cultivates this culture to demonize, exploit, and control us?!” More of their perspective shared yesterday can be found here: https://catsinrevolt.wordpress.com/
This crisis has not been without movement, but in terms of growing to support our trans sisters who are under threat for their lives, we definitely need to do more. As many transfemme writers have noted already, visibility doesn’t only bring positive attention or support. Sometimes increased visibility attracts the violencelust of cis men. With growing visibility, so to must resistance and support for trans resilience grow. In the streets, our interpersonal relationships, we all have to actively support trans liberation by and for the trans community.