“Supporters, allies and advocates” gathered at the front steps of the Massachusetts State House last week to mark Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31, reported the Boston Globe. They included many elected officials, who stepped up along with community leaders to address the crowd.
Similar events around the country were covered widely by local and national media, casting a largely supportive spotlight on the trans community—an unintended consequence of the hateful legislation from a relatively small but powerful number of officials pushing for harmful new laws in many states.
The event on Beacon Hill, “We Are a State of Love: A Gathering of Visible Solidarity with LGBTQ Youth,” was hosted by the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth.
Speakers included State Senate President Karen Spilka; Sen. Julian Cyr; Reps. Kate Hogan and Jack Patrick Lewis; Craig C. Martin, cochair of the Mass. Commission on LGBTQ Youth and executive director of Bridge Boston Charter School; Alia Cusolito, Mass. GSA Leadership Council and high school student; and Grace Sterling Stowell, executive director of BAGLY and Mass. Commission on LGBTQ Youth’s executive committee.
“I will never stop working to ensure that the voices of LGBTQIA+ community are not only heard, but welcomed and celebrated in Massachusetts,” Senate President Karen Spilka told the crowd. “I will never stop working to provide legal protections to allow people to simply be who they are. That’s as simple as it is.”
Reported the Boston Globe:
The crowd proudly waved pride flags and held signs reading, among others, “Protect LGBTQ youth here and everywhere” and “Beyond the binary.”
“To all the queer youth out there—especially my fellow trans people—I want you to know that you will be OK. You have support. When you say who you are and what you need, you deserve to be heard. If you’re feeling unsafe, talk to someone, you can even reach out to Queer Youth Assemble by emailing or messaging us,” Cusolito said. “There’s so much more to life than what we’re seeing now. And there are millions of people who support you. I promise there is hope for you. There is a place for you. I love you, and you are beautiful and powerful. We won’t stop fighting for you until every single person is safe and supported.”
Not a subscriber? Sign up today for a free subscription to Boston Spirit magazine, New England’s premier LGBT magazine. We will send you a copy of Boston Spirit 6 times per year and we never sell/rent our subscriber information. Click HERE to sign up!
