Transgender rights movement comes to a head at rally

By Sean Campbell

BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–

In response to recent anti-transgender rights protests and rhetoric the Yolo is for Everyone Unity Rally took place on Oct. 10. The rally featured 12 speakers including elected officials, religious leaders and local LGBTQ+ activists.

Beforehand the group circulated a letter to spread their message beyond those in attendance. “We do not simply accept the diversity of our county, our state, and our nation—we embrace it,” the letter said in part. As of the printing of the HUB on Oct. 16, more than 1,000 individuals and organizations have signed. 

At the rally, multiple elected officials voiced their concerns about targeted hate speech including California’s 4th district state representative Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, who represents much of Yolo County. “It worries me that there are people that have so much hate and so much prejudice that they take it out on our community,” Aguiar-Curry said. “Trans-rights are human rights.”

Reverend Christine Haider-Winnett, representing almost 20 local religious groups and leaders, denounced religion as a way to justify anti LGBTQ+ sentiment. “It was wrong hundreds of years ago and it’s still wrong today,” she said. “LGBTQ+ members of our community are whole and holy.”

A transgender Davis community member, who wished to remain anonymous, shared their experience. “Removing resources and support from transgender people does not erase us,” they said. “It just relegates transgender people to the shadows and to the closet.”

When their speech was interrupted by a counter protest, rather than advocating for retaliation, the community member told the crowd what they could do to support transgender people. “Take the initiative to educate yourselves on transgender issues,” they said. “Help us step forward along with you.”

Many community members were moved by the speeches and turnout. “(The rally) showed support for everyone in Davis that feels marginalized,” Davis community member and 6th grade teacher Amy George said. “We are all in this together.”

The City of Davis, Yolo County and UC Davis have been working together on a new program called Hate Free Together that will work to combat local hate incidents. “Hate is a cycle that can be broken if we cultivate change, prioritize education and stand up together,” said Yolo County Supervisor Lucas Frerichs, in a 2022 press release. “We ask the entire community to join us in this fight and learn how we can all work to become Hate Free Together.”

In order to protect educators and students further, Davis Joint Unified School District filed a temporary restraining order against the head of Yolo County’s branch of Mom’s for Liberty, a national conservative organization, Beth Bourne. A presentation by Mom’s for Liberty at the Yolo County Library was shut down on Aug. 20 for violating the code of conduct. Since then multiple DJUSD schools and staff have had bomb threats affect their everyday life. The restraining order was delivered on Oct. 11 and a further hearing to decide permanent action will take place on Oct. 25.