Trans rights rally promotes message
On Thursday Oct. 28 at the Civic Arts Plaza, Remi Parise, sophomore, led students to fight for recognition and awareness of the LGBTQ community at the Transgender Rights Rally. Participants held up signs and flags in hopes that the people passing by would recognize and support this movement in the community. “I started doing it last year, same date, just because that was right around the presidential election,” Parise said.
The passing of transphobic laws across the country was a driving force at this year’s rally. In multiple states, including Arkansas, West Virginia, Alabama, and Tennessee, there have been anti-trans laws against health care, education, religion and sports. In response, Parise aims to “spread awareness about all the issues that are happening because a lot of people still don’t know.” They advocate for systemic changes that will benefit those who do not have support from their families. “I’d like to maybe make some changes and things that will help trans people and queer people in a community, like safe places where they can go if they’ve been kicked out,” Parise said.
Maddy Opp, TOHS alumna, attended the rally to fight for equal healthcare for the LGBTQ community, as many states have protected doctors who have refused to treat transgender people for religious reasons. “I think it’s important that trans people and everyone in the LGBTQ community have same rights as everyone else,” Opp said. “Everyone deserves the same rights.”
Zoey Blair, sophomore, who also came to the rally is aware of the struggles throughout the transgender community. “There’s still a lot of intolerance in this country. In the world, in general, towards transgender people, mostly because people are uneducated about how gender works, and the difference between sex and gender,” Blair said. By going to this rally she is showing her support for trans healthcare and other issues. “I’m an ally to the
community. And I feel like it’s important for me to be vocal about that, and show my support whenever possible,” Blair said.
With several passersby cars blaring their horns in support and pedestrians rallying on Parise’s group, the participants are hopeful that their rally will make a significant impact. “[A lot of people here] just don’t get it. But like trans people are also people,” Parise said. “If they just had a little bit more compassion, [it could] inspire them to vote on different stuff.”
