FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ProtectTransKidsMarch.org • info@protecttranskidsmarch.org
September 13, 2023
Contacts: Melinda Butterfield (718) 541-7940; Rebecca Raia (407) 620-4430
Grassroots groups to host National March to Protect Trans Youth on Oct. 7 in Orlando, Florida
Historic event will draw protesters from across Florida and U.S. to denounce transphobic & racist policies of DeSantis & other state governments
A broad grassroots coalition of trans and LGBTQI+ activists and progressive organizations will hold a National March to Protect Trans Youth and Speakout for Trans Rights on Saturday, Oct. 7, in Orlando, Florida. The march will gather at 12 noon at Orange & Anderson near Orlando City Hall.
Endorsers include: Women in Struggle – Mujeres en Lucha, Queer Youth Assemble, Teamsters National LGBTQ+ Caucus, Center for Constitutional Rights, PRISM South Florida, Orlando Come Out with Pride, Equality Florida, Pride at Work Eastern Mass., Tampa Bay Community Action Committee, NYC Reclaim Pride Coalition, New Orleans Real Name Campaign, Louisiana Women’s Action Committee, Unión del Barrio, United American Indians of New England, MLK Coalition of Greater Los Angeles, Milwaukee (MKE) LGBT Community Center, Baltimore Peoples Power Assembly, Harriet Tubman Center of LA, Umbrella Brigade of Orlando, and many more.
Samira Burnside, Florida organizer, said: “As a transgender youth in Florida, it would be hard not to become an activist, like allowing yourself to be taken by the river instead of swimming against it. What’s happened here has become a threat of such an utterly existential nature that it extends beyond borders. It has encroached on the civil liberties of everyone, and I am beyond excited to see what we can do when we are united, on Oct. 7 and beyond.”
Melinda Butterfield, a march initiator from New York, said: “A protest like this is long overdue. The divide-and-conquer measures of Ron DeSantis, the Florida legislature, and their wealthy backers are echoed in states across the country: banning gender-affirming healthcare, suppressing free speech for queer students and teachers, throttling Pride celebrations and drag performances, banning trans people from using restrooms, and threatening to kidnap trans youth from supportive parents. DeSantis’ racist abuse of immigrants, the Black community, and other groups has contributed to crimes like the recent white supremacist murder of three Black people in Jacksonville, Florida.”
Christynne Lili Wrene Wood, San Diego Champion of Pride winner, said: “This year began with my being targeted by an organized campaign of hatred and lies challenging my legal rights to use the women’s locker room at the Cameron YMCA in Santee, California. Because of the love and support of my community, I was empowered with the strength to stand in a very public, televised forum and call out the lies of the racist, transphobic bigots and religious zealots that sought to vilify me. And I’m bringing that love, confidence, and support to my beloved rainbow family in Florida.”
Follow the National March on social media: Linktr.ee/transyouthmarch.
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