Staff Reports
More than 100 transgender and nonbinary individuals recently gathered outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. to hold a “trans prom” organized by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and a drag queen. The youth attendees of the prom showed up outside of the Capitol to celebrate their gender identity and push back against legislation that divides school sports teams and bathrooms on the basis of biological sex rather than gender identity.
Trans youth deserve all the love and joy the world has to offer. https://t.co/M0FNynQUq1
— ACLU (@ACLU) May 23, 2023
The attendees held signs and chanted slogans such as “trans kids have always existed” and “trans youth are powerful,” protesting against the attempts made by some to deny the existence of transgender individuals. The so-called “trans prom” was led by two adult organizers, Chase Strangio and Peppermint, who aimed to build upon the legacies of past transgender individuals and embracing the possibilities of their futures.
Today we said enough is enough of the anti-trans rhetoric and laws. We showed UP at the Capitol for #TransProm. Our joy is OURS. pic.twitter.com/X7FKqepxji
— Chase Strangio (@chasestrangio) May 22, 2023
Many of the attendees had to face discrimination based on their gender identity. For instance, an attendee from Mississippi was prohibited from dressing in accordance with his gender identity at graduation. Meanwhile, a family from Texas is preparing to move following the passage of a state Senate bill that would ban medical transitioning interventions.
Amid the backdrop of increasing attacks on transgender individuals, organizers of the “trans prom” hoped to create a positive environment, where attendees could come together to celebrate their gender identity without fear of discrimination. Indeed, by embracing their community, attendees could create a sense of joy in what is too often a troubling and oppressive world.
As transgender rights are at the forefront of the culture war, the issue of who gets to use which bathroom and join which sports team has become a highly contentious issue. However, the aim of the event was for attendees to take a break from the polarizing debates and instead, promote a message of unity and transgender pride. Ultimately, the prom was a powerful statement that the transgender community is here to stay, and that they refuse to be silenced.
