In response to the Trump administration’s leaked anti-trans memo, the Party for Socialism and Liberation Seattle issued a call to action to say that the trans community “will not be erased.”
On less than a week’s notice approximately 200 people gathered at Seattle Central College in the Capital Hill district of Seattle. Eight speakers at the opening rally included Michelle Caywood with the Party for Socialism and Liberation, Mac MacGregor, a board member of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, Peter Ruhm from Seattle Clinic Defense, Charles Susat, a long-time transgender activist in Seattle, Gina Petrie of Freedom Socialist Party, Emerson from Socialist Alternative, Toby (with 25 day old baby Remedy) of the Gender Justice League and Jane Cutter from the PSL.
Michelle Caywood opened up the rally with a speech pointing out that transgender rights — like the rights of all oppressed people — will be won in the streets, not by waiting for some phony “resistance” from political elites.
Each speaker stressed the need for a united struggle against tran oppression and how scary the latest attacks from right wing are. Many speakers touched on the need for creating personal support networks to withstand the stresses of being a transgender human living in the United States. Many also linked transphobia to the capitalists’ need to divide the working class and called for socialism as the long-term solution to trans oppression.
Particularly moving was Charles Susat’s speech about the history of the transgender movement in Seattle He spoke about the first transgender organizing meeting in Seattle, which took place at SCC. Susat shared that people at that first meeting wept as he told them that trans people have a lot to teach the rest of the community about gender, sexuality and being human.
Jane Cutter finished off the rally by stressing the need to be organized and join an organization and to fight capitalism on all fronts.
The rally was followed by a spirited 45-minute march through the neighborhood, ending up at nearby Cal Anderson Park. The crowd chanted the entire route: “Trans existence is resistance!” “Trans rights are human rights!” “Trans lives matter!“ “We will not be erased” and “Trump says ‘get back-We say fight back!’”
There was an open microphone at Cal Anderson Park that lasted about an hour. Speaker after speaker got up and affirmed the need for a united struggle.
