Across the nation, marches were held Friday in support of transgender youth, rallying in favor of codifying Title IX to include sexuality, gender identity, and gender expression. Those rallies popped up across Northeast Ohio as well, including in Downtown Cleveland and Cleveland Heights.
On Friday morning, which coincided with International Transgender Visibility Day, demonstrators gathered outside the Cleveland Heights Community Center, holding signs that read "Leave trans kids alone," "Let me be myself," and "Trans rights are human rights" among many others.
The group walked a mile through the cold, wind and rain to Cleveland Heights City Hall, chanting "protect trans kids" along the way. The goal was to raise awareness and demand protection for LGBTQ youth against legislation banning gender-affirming care and ongoing pushes here in Ohio to ban trans athletes and other issues popping up around the country.
For Daniel Rice, marching was fueled by his own personal experience and desire to help the next generation.
"Gender-affirming care really saved my life as my signs says," Rice said. "I would not be alive today if it were not for that care that I received and I know that is the case for so many trans people and trans youth specifically."
One of the organizers of the event in Cleveland Heights, Kai, hoped to fight for more protections for the LGBTQ community, even in cities like theirs and others that have been more progressive but they say need to do more.
"Unfortunately while Cleveland Heights and Lakewood consider themselves very safe, they don’t bother to stand up against state legislature," Kai said.
Once at city hall, the group marched inside and called for Cleveland Heights Mayor Kahlil Seren to come and hear their concerns. For some time, Seren's communication director Mike Thomas heard questions and provided answers to those in attendance.
Before the march ended, Seren arrived at City Hall and spoke to the group, hearing questions and thanking the demonstrators for making their voices heard.
"We are not generally a city where we’re on the wrong side of these issues but we’re not a monolith, not everybody in our city agrees," Seren said. "I want to thank you for being here, for reminding us that you’re out here too and that you’ve got our backs because we definitely have your backs."
Seren previously issued the following statement regarding the planned march:
Cleveland Heights supports the rights of queer and trans youth to be who they are, embraced by our community and free from shame and fear. We have passed local legislation prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression in employment, public accommodation, education, and housing. Our city has passed legislation banning conversion therapy, a discredited and harmful practice rooted in bigotry. Cleveland Heights is a community where all are welcome, not just tolerated or accepted. We believe that no life should be lived in a closet.
The demonstration was largely fueled by the personal experiences held by those in attendance, but many who consider themselves allies also marched in support.
For Rice, those efforts culminated in the simple fact that the community is fighting to be heard. For him, the urge to make life easier for young LGBTQ people around the country and here in Ohio kept him marching through the elements.
"We’re here and we’re not going anywhere. We’ve always been here. We’ve been here as long as history stretches back. People think this is a new phenomenon, that is entirely false," Rice said. "I’m just thinking about all the trans kids that need us right now...I have resolved to help the other trans people in that situation."
Cleveland Height's rally and march was one of many, with events planned in all 50 states. Here in Northeast Ohio the following cities had planned for similar marches:
- Cleveland: 4 p.m., March from Willard Park (Free Stamp) to City Hall
- Lakewood: 4 p.m. – 7 p.m., March at Lakewood Park (14532 Lake Ave.)
- Madison: 3:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Madison Village Square Park
