Erie Transgender Day of Visibility

from Caitlyn Strohmeyer

On Thursday, March 31, Erie observed the International Transgender Day of Visibility for the first time. Transgender community members and their friends and family came together to talk about the discrimination and difficulties faced by transgender people, but also their strength and growth, and to advocate for Pennsylvania to pass the Fairness Act. Currently, there is nothing at the state level that protects people in the areas of employment, housing and public accommodations on the bases of gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation. Those categories have been covered by the Erie County Human Relations Commission since March 8, 2002.

Erie Times News covered the event and included a photo and article in the next day's edition.

Speakers at the event included Caitlyn Strohmeyer, Melanie Shubitowski, Tyler James Titus, and Jewels, an 11 year old trans girl. Supporters spoke as well, including Ashley, a professor at Behrend writing a children's book for trans youth as a community project.

The event was initially organized by Daye Pope of Equality PA Trans and Caitlyn Strohmeyer of TransFamily of NW PA. The event was originally slated to be in Perry Square, but was moved to the Mental Health Association of NW PA, 1101 Peach St, Erie PA, due to thunderstorms in the weather forecast.

Photos

Also view photos here.