This year, California became the first state in the nation to proactively support transgender students’ rights with the signing of Assembly Bill 1266, the School Success and Opportunity Act. The bill guarantees transgender students safe access to restrooms, locker rooms and sports teams that corresponds with the student’s gender identity. Prohibiting a student from doing so will be a violation of state law as of 2014.
Just days after this momentous victory, anti-trans groups like the National Organization for Marriage, the Capitol Resource Center and the Pacific Justice Institute, filed a referendum with the California attorney to repeal this law. Their coalition, “Privacy for All Students,” has launched an all-out public smear campaign against transgender students, lying to the public to get signatures and remove the rights so long denied to trans folk.
In expectation of the results of the petition drive, San Diego LGBTQ rights organizations Canvass for a Cause, SAME Alliance and Black and Pink San Diego will hold a Rally to “Defend Trans Rights” at the Hillcrest Pride Flag Friday Nov. 22 at 6:30 p.m. The rally will feature speakers from the trans community. People are encouraged to bring signs and flags and to wear pink, blue and/or white in solidarity with the trans community. Face paint will be available on site.
“The left-leaning mainstream media has been eerily silent on this issue, and we know that whether this referendum qualifies or not, this fight is not over yet. We want to build momentum in our community and prepare for the large mobilization effort in support of transgender students that needs to follow,” said Alfie Padilla, field coordinator with Canvass for a Cause. “This rally will feature only trans voices, as our voices are so often left out of the media. The time is now to organize our community and defend trans youth!”
This event is wheelchair accessible and dis-ability affirmative.
