An anonymous e-mail came to the transgender community's attention in March 2004, which expressed the need for a trans march. The e-mail coincided with the first trial in the murder of East Bay transgender teenager Gwen Araujo, and helped launch the largest transgender event of its kind.
This year marks the fourth annual Trans March that kicks off Pride weekend. An estimated 10,000 people are expected in attendance, compared to last year's 7,500 people. The march is steadily increasing in size, organizers said.
Supporters and participants will rally in Dolores Park between Dolores and 19th streets at 3 p.m. on Friday for an entertainment filled afternoon with performances by various artists, spoken word performers, trans activists, and political leaders.
A throng of marchers will line up at 7 p.m. and proceed to Market, then up to the Castro, circling back toward Dolores Park for some more performances from 8:15 to 9:30 p.m. After the event wraps up in the park, the crowd can head over to El Rio and the Rickshaw Stop for after-parties.
"The Trans March seeks to increase visibility for the growing transgender community, to demonstrate that violence and discrimination against transgender, gender-variant, and intersex people is wrong, and to celebrate our diverse community," said organizer Sam Davis, a member of the march committee.
Organized entirely by volunteers, the Trans March is a grassroots organization geared toward social change. It's purpose is three pronged as it seeks to demonstrate that discrimination and violence against the transgender community will not stop its voices and presence from being heard; to celebrate the struggles of the trans community for acceptance, respect, and civil rights; and to build a unified community that brings together and bridges the gap between diverse genders, ages, ethnic and racial backgrounds, and that includes trans community allies.
Four years and still going strong, organizers hope this event will show the human face of trans, intersex, and gender-variant people and that it will make a statement – that there is a growing gender movement in urban areas that commands attention for the respect, civil rights, and gender equality for those who see gender as having more than two options.
"At each march there's a clear articulation of issues facing the trans community – from civil rights to discrimination to violence, but we're also here to celebrate and each year more and more people come," said Robert Haaland, a labor organizer and Pride community grand marshal who will be speaking.
"To see us all together in one place ... there's something special about coming together and feeling a sense of community – it fills me with pride," Haaland added.
This year, San Francisco Democratic lawmakers Assemblyman Mark Leno and state Senator Carole Migden are also expected to speak. Leno is running against Migden for her Senate seat in next year's primary.
The event will showcase over 40 speakers and artists within the queer community, including comedian Lynn Breedlove, drag king band That Way, hip-hop artist Katastrophe, spoken word artist Julia Serano, queer rock band Dyspecific, drag king AfroDisiac, acoustic guitarist Namoli Brennet, and more.