Local activists call for greater protection of the rights and safety of transgender youth during the 3rd annual Trans March.
The Alliance for Trans Youth is inviting the public to gather at the Great Canadian Flag on Riverside Drive at 1 p.m. Sunday to take part.
The event will begin with speeches from local activists before participants march through downtown Windsor.
Organizers say the march comes amid what they describe as an increase in legislation in both Canada and the United States targeting transgender rights.
They say those measures include restrictions on gender-affirming care for youth, privacy and access to information about transgender issues.
The Alliance for Trans Youth says this year’s march is also intended to send a message of support to queer and transgender students as they return to school.
Sabrina is a co-organizer with the Alliance for Trans Youth and says it’s important to continue holding this event as legislative attacks continue.
“Our visibility and our intentional taking of streets in an area where we are seeing, and especially with the school year coming up, where students know that we are here and we are ready to defend their rights as they go back to school and continue to face this increasingly scary political climate, that is more important than ever right now.”
She says the event has grown over the first two years.
“We have volunteers who were excited to step in and help out with this, who have been volunteering with every march thus far and with other events that we’ve been doing. And of course we have negative responses. We had a very small crowd of counter protesters last year, I don’t think the year previously, but largely the response is overwhelmingly positive.”
She says anyone is welcome to attend, but they understand if individuals are wary or concerned.
“If the issue is more visibility or safety, we will be providing masks for a little bit of identity protection. And there are other local organizations who would be prepared to support these individuals until they want to become more public. And of course, if they never decide to attend a public event, that’s totally okay too.”
The march will be followed by about an hour of socializing, with snacks and music at the end of the event.
The Alliance for Trans Youth says people who are unable to walk the full route can contact organizers, as a limited number of car seats will be available for participants who need a ride during the march.