The Trans Visibility Day March will take place on Sunday in Lisbon, demanding rights, remembering the violence that trans people still suffer, but also as a moment of celebration to defend that “the struggle continues”.
The march is being organized by Transmutar, a network of trans, non-binary and intersex activists, and, speaking to the Lusa news agency, Caeiro, one of the structure’s members, explained that this initiative is part of the month of trans visibility, which takes place in March.
“We want to highlight our existence, that we also have rights, just as we have duties, and also to protest against the much violence that still exists against this particular community,” said Caeiro.
He stressed that there is a fear that there could be a setback in terms of rights won, given the current political scenario in the country, following the legislative elections – which gave victory to the Democratic Alliance, but consecrated the Chega party as the third political force.
“But, in fact, our claim is also a celebration of our own bodies and it’s a tapping of the foot that we continue to exist and that we’re not going anywhere,” said Caeiro.
Faced with the fear that violence against the trans community will grow, the activist group argues that “the fight goes on”.
“There’s always a question of prejudice about these types of people, who do no harm to society, quite the opposite, they’re quite functional, but there really is resistance,” he pointed out.
On the other hand, he highlighted health, education, but also social life, as areas where we need to improve processes and combat discrimination, whether in access to transition processes, or in the inclusion in schools of children or young people who are going through these processes.
Regarding the number of people who might join Sunday’s demonstration, Caeiro said that the movement has had “good feedback on social media” and that the organization “has been doing an exceptional job” to ensure that as many people as possible attend, stressing that it is an event open to everyone.
According to information from Transmutar, the march will begin with a gathering in front of the Assembly of the Republic at 15:30, from where it will head to Lisbon City Hall, in Praça do Município, for the second gathering of the march and to remember “the refusal of [Lisbon Mayor Carlos] Moedas to raise the flag [of the trans community] last year”.
Then, at 5pm, the demonstration heads to Praça Dom Pedro IV, better known as Rossio, where there will be speeches, an open microphone and performances.
March 31 marks the International Trans Day of Visibility, created by American trans activist Rachel Crandall in 2009 against the lack of recognition of trans people within the LGBTI community itself and against the fact that the only holiday recognized for the transgender community is the International Trans Day of Remembrance, which remembers murdered trans people.
Since last year, the date has also become national, after it was approved in the Portuguese Parliament with the votes in favor of the PS, Liberal Initiative, PCP, BE and the single MPs from PAN and Livre.