Thousands of people are preparing to travel to the nation’s capital September 27-29 for a weekend full of events surrounding the first National Trans Visibility March on DC.
Advocates organized the September 28 march and related events to raise awareness about the plight of transgender folks during a time of heightened violence against trans women of color and an all-out assault on LGBTQ rights during the Trump administration.
“We are marching in solidarity in support of the passing of the Equality Act and inclusion for the Trans community,” Marissa Miller, the event’s national organizing director, said in a written statement. “We encourage all to #March4TransEquality while demanding justice for those whose lives were taken through senseless acts of violence and murders.”
Though the march is free to attend, organizers are requesting a $25 donation, which comes with a T-shirt “and other items at the march,” according to the event registration page. Organizers say that at least 4,000 people have already registered.
The day of activism on September 28 will begin at 9 a.m. with an Equality Rally at Freedom Plaza, at the corner of 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW near Pershing Park. The rally will feature prominent speakers, including “Pose” star Angelica Ross and Human Rights Campaign president Alphonso David.
Following the rally, the march is tentatively scheduled to begin at 11 a.m., traveling from Freedom Plaza to Third Street, according to the event page, though the exact location on Third Street has not been announced and details surrounding the route have yet to be revealed.
Organizers have outlined eight policy points they plan to highlight that day. The leaders are most prominently calling for a “state of emergency” in response to the 19 known trans women who have died violent deaths this year, while also demanding the passage of the comprehensive nondiscrimination legislation known as the Equality Act and the scrapping of the trans military ban. They also seek to reinstitute Obamacare nondiscrimination protections and an Obama-era guidance for trans kids in schools, block a proposed rule out of the Department of Housing and Urban Development that would deny access to homeless shelters based on a person’s gender identity, stop the over-policing of trans women, and put an end to the mistreatment of trans people in immigration custody.
There will be a post-march celebration from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Trade, a bar located on the first floor at 1410 14th Street NW.
The march is just one component of a broad slate of festivities throughout the weekend.
On September 27 — one day before the march — folks can participate in activist trainings in addition to a panel discussion about the movement to decriminalize sex work and a credit and financial management workshop, among other events. That Friday evening at 7 p.m., advocates whose work has impacted the lives of trans, gender nonconforming, and non-binary people will be honored at the Torch Awards, though that event is invite-only.
The weekend festivities will wrap up on Sunday afternoon with an Empowerment Service at Community Church of Washington, D.C. at 1405 15th Street NW. That event begins at 12:30 p.m. and will celebrate the progress gained so far in the fight for trans rights while also encouraging folks to remain active in their local communities when they return home.
