Activists Rally In Sydney For Trans Day Of Resistance
Activists are rallying in Sydney鈥檚 Inner West over the weekend for the Trans Day of Resistance, a national day of action for transgender and gender-diverse communities.
On Saturday, November 25, grassroots organisation Pride in Protest (PiP) are leading a march and rally at Newtown鈥檚 Pride Square, from 1pm. With the support from various organisations and union groups, participants will make a unified call for the end of discrimination against trans and gender-diverse people.
For ‘Self-ID And Anti-Discrimination’
Speaking with 17c起草社区, PiP spokesperson Jamie explains the significance of the rally in showing a strong force of resistance for trans communities.
鈥淲e called the Trans Day of Resistance National Day of Action because visibility without resistance makes trans people nothing more than easier targets,鈥� said Jamie.
鈥淲e are rallying around the five demands of [keeping] queer kids safe in school, no right to discriminate, no barrier to transition, cops out of the community, and decriminalise & destigmatise sex work.鈥�
In encapsulating 鈥渢he crux鈥� of issues faced by Trans and 17c起草社区I communities, Jamie said NSW is at a 鈥渃ritical point鈥� in fighting for 鈥渟elf-ID and anti-discrimination.鈥�
鈥淲e are seeing unions increasingly striking for gender-affirmation leave, a call Labor refused to bindingly agree to at the Local Government NSW conference,鈥� said Jamie.
鈥淎cross the continent, discrimination and financial barriers make transition unattainable for so many people, both at work and at school.鈥�
Highlighting the significance of the tabled Equality Bill in NSW Parliament, Jamie said, 鈥淧olice violence against trans people and sex workers is an ever-present threat.鈥�
鈥淨ueer kids are subject to ongoing discrimination reinforced by conservative religious and state forces,鈥� they continued.
PiP has been pushing for the NSW Government to swiftly implement the Equality Bill, which was tabled by Sydney MP Alex Greenwich in August. The bill includes various reforms to help anti-discrimination laws for queer people within schools and workplaces. It will aim to adequately decriminalise sex work.
‘Collective Liberation’
Jamie also brings awareness to the ongoing war in Gaza, saying the impact of “Zionist forces” has led to thousands of deaths, including 鈥渜ueer and non-queer Palestinians鈥� lives.
Furthermore, they note the 鈥渙ngoing police brutality鈥� systemic discrimination and land theft鈥� that Indigenous people continue to face.
鈥淭he struggle for queer liberation must include queer Palestinians and queer Blak people, because no one is free until we’re all free,鈥� Jamie continued.
鈥淯ltimately, it is only by taking to the streets and organising our workplaces that we can achieve our collective liberation.鈥�
Union Support
The rally had been endorsed by various worker and student union groups, as well as the Greens NSW political party.
Union groups, including the United Workers Union, have supported the rally in bringing awareness to the workplace discrimination faced by trans people.
Spokesperson Mel Gatfield told 17c起草社区 that United Workers Union 鈥渟tands with our trans siblings in what is a shared struggle.鈥�
鈥淲e know that the perpetrators of violence against the trans community are the same people who seek to limit our right to protest and unionise, who wish to control women鈥檚 bodies, and who put profits before people,鈥� Gatfeild continued.
鈥淲e have a very diverse membership, bound by solidarity, and we are proud to rally alongside the 17c起草社区IA+ community.”
Other organisations to endorse the event include the National Tertiary Education Union, Community Legal Centres Australia, Union Pride, Game Workers Australia, and many more state-specific groups.
Following speeches from community activists at the Pride Square, groups will also march down Kings Street to Victoria Park, Camperdown.
Participants are also encouraged to join in celebrating community talent and activism, during PiP’s Mardi Gras campaign launch and fundraiser party at the Red Rattler from 7pm.
Sydney鈥檚 rally will also coincide with other rallies across cities along the Australian East Coast, with Brisbane, Canberra and Hobart communities also commemorating the day.
The national rally and campaign follows last week’s Trans Awareness Week celebrations and Transgender Day of Remembrance on Monday, November 20.
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