Pride, support take stand at Trans Day of Visibility rally in Worcester

WORCESTER - Standing on the steps of City Hall on a rainy Friday evening may not have seemed the best way to spend a birthday, but there was no place that Oomiya Kawas would rather be.

“I honestly didn’t think I would make it past 30 but here I am and I am so happy to be here,” said Kawas. "It's been almost 10 years to the day since I came out as a proud queer nonbinary person.”

Friday was International Trans Day of Visibility, and a rally, organized by Jai Santora, Laura Marotta and Stacy Lord, took place in front of City Hall. Prominent members of Worcester’s LGBTQ community spoke at the event, sharing their own experiences as well as expressing support, as anti-trans legislation is passed across the country.

“Against all odds, figuratively and literally, we exist.” said Kawas. “We are not a mistake.”

Power of visibility

Dr. Jules Trobaugh has been married for 32 years and has two children in school in Worcester, where she and her family have lived for 15 years. And that’s why she spoke at the rally.

“I came out today because I wanted to show that we’re all regular people,” said Trobaugh. “That’s why I mentioned my husband, kids and living here for 15 years because it’s about changing people’s impressions of who is a transgender person.”

“Trans people have always existed,” said Lamar Brown-Noguera, “but for far too long their lives and experiences have been ignored or dismissed by society.”

Being visible provides opportunities to push back against harmful myths and stereotypes, often just by existing.

“Visibility helps fight the demonization of trans existence,” said Trobaugh. Transgender individuals face significant barriers to health care, she said, including discrimination by health care providers, and lack of insurance, in addition to the legislation gaining traction in many states.

“Visibility is not just about being seen,” said Brown-Noguera. "It’s also about being safe, being valued and respected for who you are.”

Right to life

A year ago, Tyler Charpentier was hospitalized for a suicide attempt. He’s not alone. “40% of transgender individuals have attempted suicide and 82% have considered it,” he said. “Taking away this health care is not just taking away vials of testosterone or access to top surgery, you are taking away the ability to live.”

Kawas said one of the best things allies can do is to work within their scope of influence. If allies are able to engage with others who may be fearful or ignorant, to take those opportunities to try and change minds and raise awareness.

“We can’t leave it up to trans people to do all of the education and the work,” said Kawas, “because surviving is the work.”

Penelope Conley works two jobs to support her children. “I want to live long enough to see them grow but there are some that don’t want me to,” she said. “We’re just trying to survive and live peacefully.”

Conley questioned the focus on anti-trans laws instead of gun control, and in doing so, infringing on the constitutional rights of transgender Americans by denying the right to life to liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

“America stands for the freedom of its people yet we’re taking those freedoms away,” said Charpentier. “I believe trans children deserve the same love, respect and care as their cisgendered counterparts, I believe that trans people deserve to feel safe in their homes, workplaces and country.”

Allyship, both inside and outside the LGBTQ community, is a key part of this fight, explained Kawas, because everyone has a stake in it.

“We are interdependent, nobody's free until everybody's free,” Kawas said.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Trans Day of Visibility rally held outside Worcester City Hall