We Are Not Disposable!

Hundreds gather to demand an end to anti-transgender violence and abuse

On Friday, March 21st, over 200 people gathered at 24th Street BART Plaza at Mission St. in San Francisco to demand an end to the systemic violence, abuse, and discrimination that transgender communities face on a daily basis. This public action was held a year after a vigil for Ruby Ordenana, a Nicaraguan transgender woman who was murdered on March 16, 2007 in the Mission. A vibrant coalition of local organizations--including CUAV, El/La Program Para TransLatinas, Hermanos de Luna y Sol, MASA, the SF LGBT Center, and the Transgender, Gender Variant, and Intersex Justice Project (TGIJP) have worked together over the last year to create opportunities for collective healing in the wake of this devastating loss.

We heard from local advocates, friends and family members of murdered transgender people as well as survivors of violence, and activists urging us to address the root causes of violence that transgender communities, particularly low-income transgender women of color, face. Representatives of Senator Carole Migden and Assemblymember Mark Leno also spoke out to demand an and to the cycles of violence in transgender communities and pledged their support.

The coalition also made a demand of Mayor Gavin Newsom and the SF Board of Supervisors to reject all budget cuts to programs that promoted transgender phyiscal, mental, economic, and political self-determination. In particular, the coalition demanded that proposed budget cuts to the Center for Special Problem's gender program--a long-time vital resource for low-income transgender people--be rejected. Over 175 people signed demand postcards, which the coalition will be delivering to the Mayor and Board of Supervisors.

CUAV consistently sees extremely high rates of interpersonal and institutional violence against transgender communities--particularly low-income transgender women of color--at the hands of police officers, partners, service providers, community members, immigration officials, and family members. We truly appreciate all of our community members and allied organizations who came out to support this important action. Please check back soon for ongoing ways to support this work.