'Trans youth absolutely deserve to play sports': Trans activists stage Brooklyn rally to protest legislation banning biological boys competing against girls in schools
Thousands gathered in Brooklyn on Sunday afternoon in a march for trans lives as a wave of legislation that targets transgender students in schools, sports, locker rooms, bathrooms, and healthcare appears to be sweeping the country.
Alabama, Arkasnsas, Mississippi, Florida, Montana, Tennessee, Idaho and West Virginia have already passed similar legislation barring students born male from playing on public school teams intended for student athletes born as girls.
The new laws, in states which all have Republican governors, have been criticized by some for 'limiting the rights of LGBTQ people.'
A protester displays wings while marching on Sunday in the Brooklyn borough of New York City at a transgender rally
'Trans youth absolutely deserve to play sports just like I did, just like I do,' said Schuyler Bailar to the crowd
Senna holds a painting during the Brooklyn Liberation's Protect Trans Youth event at the Brooklyn Museum on Sunday the Brooklyn borough in New York City
People listen to speakers during the Brooklyn Liberation's Protect Trans Youth event on Sunday afternoon
Parade marshals line up as they prepare to march during the Brooklyn Liberation's Protect Trans Youth event
Brooklyn Liberation organized a march and rally as an emergency action response to legislation to restrict trans rights across 34 states
SF poses as she holds a sign during the Brooklyn Liberation's Protect Trans Youth event on Sunday
NPeople listen to speakers during the Brooklyn Liberation's Protect Trans Youth event at the Brooklyn Museum
According to the Human Rights Campaign, there have been over 250 bills introduced in state legislatures aimed at the LGBTQ community in 2021
People dance as they march during the Brooklyn Liberation's Protect Trans Youth event on Sunday
Around 2,000 people took part in the even which happened on Sunday afternoon in Brooklyn
The words 'Trans Proud' is seen on a person as they march during the Brooklyn Liberation's Protect Trans Youth event
People walk down a makeshift modeling runway as they take a break from the marching
Several states have passed laws and South Dakota has an executive order restricting transgender athletes from participating in public school sports
'Trans youth absolutely deserve to play sports just like I did, just like I do,' said Schuyler Bailar to the New York Times describing himself as a queer Korean American transgender man of color. 'Trans kids deserve that space.'
Bailar competed college swim team as an openly transgender man and is deeply worried about the flurry of legislation that is being pushed through.
Supporters of the sports bills say they are needed to preserve fairness, asserting that biologically born women and girls would be at a disadvantage against transgender athletes who were born as male but have since transitioned to female.
At the start of June, President Joe Biden, a Democrat, issued a proclamation to mark the start of Pride Month, urging Congress to protect LGBTQ people from discrimination by passing the Equality Act and pointing to a lack of protection of their rights in many states.
The march saw thousands attend as a wave of anti-trans legislation that targets transgender students in school sports appears to be occurring across the U.S.
The laws bars transgender females from playing on public school teams intended for girls
Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Mississippi, Montana, Tennessee and West Virginia all passed similar laws but many are expected to face court challenges from furious civil rights advocates. Pictured, people walk down a makeshift modeling runway as they take a break from marching
Supporters of the bans say they preserve fairness for biological female athletes. Pictured, people walk down a makeshift modeling runway as they take a break from marching
People listen to speakers during the Brooklyn Liberation's Protect Trans Youth event at the Brooklyn Museum
Supports of trans youth came out in force on Sunday afternoon in Brooklyn for a march
A person holds a sign with the names of murdered transgender people during the Brooklyn Liberation march
Qween Jean stares out into the crowd as people listen to speakers during the Brooklyn Liberation's Protect Trans Youth event
The Brooklyn Liberation march took place amid a wave of legislation targeting transgender children and violence that disproportionately affects black trans women
Khoa Ma and Phillip Stapp embrace as they join others at the Brooklyn Liberation's Protect Trans Youth event
People dance as they march during the Brooklyn Liberation's Protect Trans Youth event
Those who attended held up signs and waved flags proudly as they made their voices heard
The march to protect transgender youth for the second year running, began at noon on Sunday outside of the Brooklyn Museum with protesters asked to wear white clothing
Trump, his Republican predecessor, did not officially recognize Pride Month during his four years in office.
The march to protect transgender youth for the second year running, began at noon on Sunday outside of the Brooklyn Museum with protesters asked to wear white clothing and face masks during the demonstration aimed at showing support for transgender and gender nonconforming youth.
'We are here to claim space,' said Shéár Avorywho is transgender and nonbinary, said to a cheering crowd. 'We are here to say that we have a right not just to survive, but to thrive; to demand that our movements show up and center us.'
Raquel Willis, a transgender rights activist, joins others in the march. Willis said there were links between the violence, which the American Medical Association has called an epidemic, and the bills being debated and passed across the country
At least 28 transgender or gender nonconforming people have been killed in the United States so far this year, according to the Human Rights Campaign
Organizers estimated thousands of people attended the march this year
Tony Taylur and Caity Arthur embrace as they pose for a photo during the Brooklyn Liberation's Protect Trans Youth
Signs are seen on the ground prior to the Brooklyn Liberation's Protect Trans Youth event at the Brooklyn Museum
Shear Avory, pictured, called for solidarity and action to support black trans and gender-nonconforming youth at a rally intended specifically to center their voices and concerns
People listen to speakers during the Brooklyn Liberation's Protect Trans Youth event at the Brooklyn Museum
Raquel Willis, a black transgender activist said she believes there are links between the violence and the various bills being passed in state legislatures across the country.
'When we talk about the epidemic of violence plaguing Black trans women and brown trans women, that is so tied to the violence and the psychological distress that trans youth are facing,' Ms. Willis said to The Times.
At least 28 transgender or gender nonconforming people have been killed in the United States so far this year, according to the Human Rights Campaign.
The victims were overwhelmingly black and Hispanic trans women and makes puts 2021 on pace to be one of the worst years on record for anti-trans violence.
A person wears a rainbow flag in their hair during the Brooklyn Liberation's Protect Trans Youth event
Signs showing support and love for the trans community were everywhere to be seen during the rally
People held up signs during the rally which started and ended in Fort Green
There was a carnival-like atmosphere as people sang and danced in the middle of the street during the demo
Qween Jean speaks during the Brooklyn Liberation's Protect Trans Youth event at the Brooklyn Museum
Speakers spoke from the steps of the Brooklyn Museum to the gathered crowd below
One protester raises their fist in a show of solidarity with fellow demonstrators at Sunday's march
