‘They’re here to antagonize us’: trans advocates say hostility at rallies is up as supreme court hears key case | Transgender
AAs the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in a case that could determine whether transgender children can participate in school sports — and potentially have a broader impact on LGBTQ+ civil rights protections — competing activist groups gathered in Washington, DC.
On one side, there was a multiracial mix of hundreds of people rallying for trans rights and supporting Becky Pepper-Jackson, a West Virginia track and field athlete and plaintiff in the Supreme Court case West Virginia v. BPJ.
On the other side, an equally large crowd, mostly white, called on the Supreme Court to “protect women’s sports” by upholding laws in West Virginia and Idaho that prohibit trans youth from participating in sports programs aligned with their gender identity.
In many ways, the scene resembled other D.C. trans and gay rights rallies over the past decade. Trans advocates and their allies danced to remixes of songs by pop star Chappell Roan, while those opposed to trans rights at one point prayed for the legal team representing West Virginia.
But this week’s protests appear to have shown a visible shift in the size, tone and aggressiveness of the crowds opposed to trans rights, advocates said. The Guardian saw trans activists being shoulder-checked, shoved, chased and recorded. When trans rights advocates chanted “our existence is resistance,” the other camp chanted: “Your existence is ridiculous.”
Some said it was a sign that this group was becoming increasingly organized in its desire to roll back LGBTQ+ rights.
“They’ve definitely increased their efforts, and that was clear on Tuesday,” said Raquel Willis, co-founder of the Gender Liberation Movement, suggesting that conservative efforts to distract Democrats from supporting LGBTQ+ rights and making them wary of trans youth in sports may have contributed to the turnout. A sign opposing trans rights at the rally cited a poll that found “Democratic voters don’t want men in women’s sports.”
The Guardian asked the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), Moms for America Action and Save Women’s Sports, three of the main organizations present at Tuesday’s rallies against trans rights, to comment on their outreach efforts and the size of the crowd on Tuesday. The ADF and Moms for America Action did not respond in time for publication. Beth Stelzer, founder of Save Women’s Sports, responded that many people who oppose the group are paid agitators.
Asked about the increased hostility at the competing rallies on Tuesday, Stelzer said: “I cannot attest to this particular event, however, I have seen at past events violence erupt on both sides.”
Several advocates told the Guardian that at some point during the day, J Gia Loving, co-executive director of the GSA (Gay Straight Alliance) network, which supports LGBTQ+ school clubs and youth groups, and Jared L Ross, a member of the Do No Harm organization, a group of medical professionals that advocates to “keep identity politics out of medicine,” crossed paths. According to Loving and others, Ross then shouted that he had been assaulted.
The Guardian saw police surround Loving and hold his hands behind his back, and refuse him access to his identification or his lawyer. Ross was unrestrained and accompanied by an officer as dozens of others surrounded Loving. A few Capitol police officers repeatedly misinterpreted Loving and refused to answer questions about why she was being detained.
After nearly 20 minutes, Loving was released. Ross was arrested and ultimately charged with a misdemeanor for simple assault, according to Capitol Police.
“Dr. Ross hopes to be fully vindicated once the facts come to light,” said Kristina Rasmussen, executive director of Do No Harm. (The Guardian contacted Ross for comment on the incident and spoke to a press representative, but Ross did not respond in time for publication.)
“It’s clear they’re here to spite us,” Loving said afterward.
The Trump administration made targeting trans people a priority last year. On the first day of his second administration, Trump signed executive orders aimed at rolling back LGBTQ+ protections established under Biden. His actions include denying federal funding to hospitals that provide gender-affirming care, removing LGBTQ+ references from federal agency websites, and cracking down on the ability of trans people to indicate their gender on their passports. This comes on top of the state’s growing legislative efforts for government to further regulate youth sports.
“We didn’t bring this fight over sports. This one was chosen by the other side,” said AJ Hikes, executive director of strategy and culture at the ACLU, one of the groups representing Pepper-Jackson, a plaintiff in one of the Supreme Court cases and the only known trans teen in West Virginia subject to the state’s ban. “This excessive focus on sports is another example of how they are trying to erase trans and non-binary people from public life.”
Many trans advocates say the bans don’t affect women’s sports at all.
“It’s about power, and it’s about control,” said Chris Mosier, an internationally renowned triathlete who came out as trans in 2010. He said he was concerned about a sweeping Supreme Court ruling that could open the door to more restrictions on trans rights in schools and erode existing LGBTQ+ protections. “They hope they can win this case to obtain a legal framework to further discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community and anyone they do not deem worthy of rights.”
Also at the rally was a group of teenagers who had traveled to Washington from North Carolina, where a 2023 law prohibits discussing sexual orientation or gender identity in elementary school. The law also requires teachers to notify parents if their child has requested to use a different name or pronoun at school. The teenagers said they wanted to be heard in a country they say ignores their views.
One, who asked to remain anonymous because his family refuses to release his identity, said he had been attacked three times at school since coming out. Another described joining his school’s swim team and facing constant harassment in the locker room. Teenagers expressed anger that a ban would be enacted to “protect” anyone or anything. Many asked the same question: “If they wanted to help us, why wouldn’t they ask us?” »
Despite the clashes and disruptions, dancing, singing and fellowship continued throughout the day at the trans rights rally. “There is so much joy here today,” said Rebekah Bruesehoff, a 19-year-old varsity athlete. “As a trans person, it can be really scary in today’s world, but to see a big community of people coming out and supporting each other… it really means a lot.”
Speakers reminded listeners of their ancestors and their resilience – from the Stonewall riots and AIDS activist Marsha P Johnson to more recent losses in the community, like Miss Major, Stonewall veteran and longtime advocate for trans women.
“We might lose battle after battle after battle,” Loving said after his release, “but after 500 years of this project to erase us, we are still here, and that matters.” »
