Why We Still March :: Justice and Pride for All

As Long Beach gears up for the 33rd Lesbian and Gay Pride Festival and Parade taking place Saturday and Sunday, May 21 and 22 this year, I'm thinking about our community's collective history Pride parades have their roots in commemorating the historic Stonewall Riots. The first Long Beach Pride Parade had marchers in bullet proof vests for protection. I march in solidarity with those who paved the way for us in the past to be able to march in celebration today.

Last year Bamby Salcedo, President of the Trans Latin@ Coalition, put the politics back into Long Beach Pride when her organization staged a die-in during the parade. The goal was to bring visibility to the continued inequities trans and gender non-conforming people still experience right here in Southern California.

Last year, we witnessed an epidemic of anti-trans violence all over the country with seven trans women murdered in the first seven weeks of 2015 alone. By the end of the same year, more than 20 trans people, mostly women of color, were murdered in the United States.

One year later, I'm still incredibly alarmed at the violence and hostility our trans community experiences on a daily basis. As Mississippi and North Carolina pass laws that allow their residents to openly discriminate against LGBTQ people, the resulting media storm surrounding these very public legislative efforts means trans people will continue to be in the crosshairs in our local communities.

A little over a month ago, a trans woman was stabbed and beaten here in Long Beach. Her attack was unquestionably motivated by hate. Two of
her assailants are already serving prison terms and another is awaiting trial on attempted murder and hate crimes charges. Shortly after the attack, a transgender man was allegedly refused service at a local barbershop. He was told that they "don't serve women." His lawsuit is pending.

When trans people are attacked, the message is that they have no worth. When they are refused service at a place of business, the message is the same. When North Carolina passes a law that functionally eliminates trans people's ability to use a public restroom, the message is clear. Trans people continue to be devalued to the point where their treatment is oftentimes subhuman.

Recently, both the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and City Council passed travel bans on official business to North Carolina and the travel ban also includes Mississippi. This is a tremendous show of solidarity from our Southern California government leaders and our community should be proud at the stand they have taken.

As we get ready to celebrate our Pride, it's important to remember that many of us still march to secure a safe future. Every year, the organization I lead, The LGBTQ Center of Long Beach, hands out buttons that say, "The first Pride was a riot."

Let's not forget where we came from... or how much farther we have yet to go.