UW students and Laramie citizens marched for transgendered rights on Sunday covering UW’s campus and the downtown Laramie area.
The March began in UW’s Simpson Plaza where two speeches were given prior to the march.
“People forget our real concerns all the time, that our recourses can be limited, that our support networks can be small, that we are already so tired from defending our very existence,” Jude Hair said.
Hair said the transgender community has been asked to be more active than ever and to foster empathy by speaking with people who hate them. Hair responded to this request.
“No, I will not be asked to foster empathy in others, I am not a Jesus come to save bigots from their sins,” Hair said.
Hair concluded the speech with a message to the transgender community.
“Everyone here has survived, all those bad days and all those things you’ve read and all those things that people have said to you,” Hair said. “You are valid, you are cared for and I am genuinely rooting for you”
Jason Manning delivered the second speech discussing a trans person’s struggle with identity.
“We need acceptance from family, we need a social transition, we also need a mental transition of ourselves,” Manning said. “To get people aware is the best thing ever.”
After Manning’s speech, those gathered for the event began the march. The participants left Simpson Plaza walking south to Grand Avenue. The march carried down Grand to Third Street and back up to campus.
Upon returning to the plaza, the participants heard one final speech.
“Last month the Trump administration decided to turn its back on the transgender youth across this nation, repealing guidelines to protect transgender youth’s rights,” Rihanna Kelver said.
Kelver said the guidelines referenced in the speech pertained to allowing transgender people use the restroom that corresponds with their preferred gender pronoun as well as to be addressed by that pronoun and chosen name.
“In my opinion the Trump administration made a grave mistake,” Kelver said.
The argument of a man being able to sexually assault a women in a bathroom because of gender-neutral bathroom laws are anecdotal and ignore the dangers posed to trans people, Kelver said.
“If that’s true how come one in two transgender individuals will be sexually assaulted in their life?” Kelver said. “ That means between me and one of my trans friends, one of us will be sexually assaulted.”
Kelver said it is not only the Trump administration that need be held accountable, but local officials as well.
“Today I personally call out the board members of the Albany County School District Number One,” Kelver said. “ To take a stance to protect the transgender youth in our schools.”
Kelver said she was impacted by a lack of policy during her time at Laramie High School. Kelver said she often had to traverse to use a single stall restroom on the other side of the building, which in some cases detracted from her education.
“ It was a decision of taking away from my education or most of the time I just held out the whole day until I got home or just tried not to drink to much,” Kelver said.
Protection policies for students could help improve their academic status as well as encourage students who are afraid to come out, Kelver said.
“We’re glad with the turn out and we hope people take the initiative to take the next step,” Bailee Harris, an organizer of the march, said.
