San Jose Pride Month Rally Denounces Violence Against LGBTQ Community
SAN JOSE (CBS SF) - A rally to kick off Pride month and denounce violence faced by the transgender community was hosted by the Santa Clara County Office of LGBTQ Affairs in San Jose.
"Recent incidents and national statistics show that fatal violence disproportionately affects transgender women, primarily black and Latinx transgender women, and paint a larger picture of a growing problem," the office said in a statement.
"People think that it's just a time for celebration, which it is. But it's also a call to action in a continual fight for our protections and rights," says Maribel Martinez, director of the department.
Martinez says we have a long way to go to ensure that everyone is safe, protected, and free.
Earlier this year, the Trump administration rescinded an Obama-era regulation that protected transgender patients under the affordable care act. The U.S. Supreme Court also allowed a trump policy that bars many transgender people from the military, and transgender rights are now limited in the workplace.
"That's really frightening. Right now is a need of allies and advocates to stand up for those rights. And when we look at the LGBTQ community, that we're really assuring that everybody is treated with dignity and respect," Martinez said.
Officials taking part in the rally included Santa Clara County supervisors Mike Wasserman, Cindy Chavez, Dave Cortese and Susan Ellenberg, County Executive Jeffrey V. Smith, Deputy District Attorney Erin West, Office of LGBTQ Affairs Director Maribel Martinez and representatives of community-based organizations serving the LGBTQ community.
"No one should have to live in fear. We stand with the LGBTQ Community," said Santa Cara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen. "The District Attorney's Office has no tolerance for hate crimes and will seek justice when a person is harmed because of their actual or perceived race, religion, disability, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation."
© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. and Bay City News Service. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
