With school set to start in just over a week, the Alliance for Trans Youth is hosting Windsor's third annual Trans March on Sunday.
The Alliance for Trans Youth is a coalition of activists advocating for the rights and safety of transgender youth. It is organizing against ongoing attacks on the rights of trans youth in Canada and the United States.
"In both countries, queer and trans children's well-being is consistently being threatened by bills and laws that inhibit their rights to privacy and personal safety, restrict access to gender-affirming care, and censor vital information regarding trans-inclusivity, education and experiences," said a release from the Alliance. "The past few years have seen a dramatic increase in anti-trans legislation being introduced, with 833 bills under consideration in American federal or state legislatures alone."
The Alliance said the risk exists at home too for trans youth.
"The Greater Essex County District School Board has faced immense backlash for upholding policies intended to protect its queer and trans students from bullying and abuse," continued the release. "Local organizations, such as the Christian Heritage Party... have proliferated messages opposing life-saving policies intended to protect queer and trans people from discrimination and provide them with adequate and life-saving access to transition-related care."
Organizers hope the march will serve as a powerful reminder of their mission to protect queer and trans youth.
"As we embark on a new school year, this march demonstrates the collective strength and steadfastness of the many people prepared to continue defending the rights and safety of queer and trans youth in our city," said the Alliance.
Participants will gather under the Great Canadian Flag at Dieppe Gardens in Windsor at 1 p.m. and march through downtown Windsor.
