Urgency and emotion loomed over the thousands of people who gathered in Dolores Park, then took to the streets for the city’s 19th annual Trans March.
This year’s march came amid political unrest, highlighted by the Supreme Court’s decision Friday morning to overturn Rowe against Wade and months of anti-trance legislation in effect in dozens of states across the country.
At one point, the route of the march intersected with that of a protest against the Supreme Court’s decision. The participants from both groups raised their fists to each other in solidarity from opposite sides of Market Street, illustrating the parallels between their causes.
“It was so touching to support each other and join forces,” said march participant Maverick Eason.
Trans March was held during the month of pride in San Francisco on June 24, 2022.
Isaac, Sam Albilo / Especially for SFGATE
Some signs carried by the protesters read “Stop the police” and “Abortion rights, trans rights, sex workers’ rights are linked”. Parents carried children on their shoulders, holding signs reading “Protect trans young people.” Demonstrators marched, chanted, danced and drummed in a crowd of sounds and colors that flooded the city streets for more than two hours.
“People are so happy to be together again,” said Nico Storment, organizer of Trans March. “There is joy here. It’s like a collective deep breath. ”
Trans March was held during the month of pride in San Francisco on June 24, 2022.
Isaac, Sam Albilo / Especially for SFGATE
The San Francisco Pride Weekend begins with Trans March in 2004 and always begins with a gathering at Dolores Park, followed by a march to the historic transgender area of Tenderloin. This year’s march ended at the intersection of Turk and Taylor, where in 1966 a group of trans women led the country’s first registered act of strange resistance to police violence, known today as the Compton Café Rebellion.
“The rights of mothers are under attack; women’s rights are under attack; LGBT and especially trans rights are under attack, “said Honey Mahagoni, a District 6 candidate for supervisor and co-founder of the Transgender District, as she stood on stage at the end of the march. “But we will not tolerate it, especially not here in San Francisco and especially not in Tenderloin.”
Trans March was held during the month of pride in San Francisco on June 24, 2022.
Isaac, Sam Albilo / Especially for SFGATE
The march kicked off a weekend of LGBT + events, but it’s certainly the largest in the city, centered around trance and gender-neutral communities.
“I cried a lot of different kinds of tears – sad, scared, hopeful,” Eason said. “The way the trans community cares for each other has reminded me that no matter what, we will support each other and do what we need to do to survive and thrive.”
Trans March was held during the month of pride in San Francisco on June 24, 2022.
Isaac, Sam Albilo / Especially for SFGATE
Trans March was held during the month of pride in San Francisco on June 24, 2022.
Isaac, Sam Albilo / Especially for SFGATE
Trans March was held during the month of pride in San Francisco on June 24, 2022.
Isaac, Sam Albilo / Especially for SFGATE
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