City of St. Petersburg officials and local LGBTQ+ advocates March 26. (Photo courtesy City of St. Petersburg)<\/p>\n
ST. PETERSBURG | St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch<\/a> formally recognized Transgender Day of Visibility<\/a> during a City Council meeting March 26.<\/p>\n TDOV celebrates the accomplishments of transgender people worldwide each March 31. It also raises awareness of the work needed to save their lives.<\/p>\n The mayor issued a proclamation for that purpose, noting that since the city may not be able to recognize TDOV \u201cin the future,\u201d it was \u201cthat much more important.\u201d The state legislature passed a ban<\/a> on local governments taking official actions related to DEI this month.<\/p>\n Welch recognized St. Petersburg LGBTQ+ Liaison Nathan Bruemmer<\/a> before reading the proclamation, the first transgender person to serve in the role<\/a>. He and other local advocates joined the mayor at the podium for the ceremony.<\/p>\n The proclamation noted that \u201ctransgender residents are valued members of our city\u201d that contribute \u201cevery day as neighbors, family members, employees, artists, students, business owners, volunteers and civic leaders.\u201d<\/p>\n It added that transgender visibility \u201chelps foster understanding, compassion and connection, reminding us that diversity enriches our city and strengthens the fabric of our shared civic life.<\/p>\n \u201cThe City of St. Petersburg recognizes a welcoming and inclusive community benefits everyone, and honoring the dignity of all people reflects our highest civic values,\u201d it continues. \u201cBy uplifting the stories, contributions, and voices of transgender people, we help build a city where all individuals\u2014regardless of gender identity or expression\u2014know they belong and are respected.\u201d<\/p>\n Welch then declared March 31 as TDOV in the City of St. Petersburg.<\/p>\n Bruemmer spoke afterwards, thanking City Council for their support and highlighting various organizations which were present. He was joined by representatives from TransNetwork<\/a>, TIGLFF<\/a> \u2014 which hosted its inaugural Trans Pride weekend<\/a> this month \u2014 St Pete Pride<\/a>, the Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber<\/a>, SwampBois and Doll Dynasty.<\/p>\n Unity Jalal<\/a>, TIGLFF\u2019s board president, addressed the body after him. She called creating joy through events like the Tampa Bay Transgender Film Festival \u201ccritical.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhile there\u2019s been a lot of joy and a lot of strength\u2026 we\u2019ve also experienced a lot of hardship as a community,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s become more difficult to access health care\u2026 more difficult to be represented on our identification properly\u2026 more difficult to use the restroom in public facilities, and there\u2019s been a lot of those kind of things to hold us down and hold us back.<\/p>\n \u201cBut that\u2019s why we need to have joy\u2026 so that we don\u2019t only focus on the bad things happening to us,\u201d she continued. \u201cI\u2019m extremely excited that St. Pete is still continuing to support us and to proclaim Trans Day of Visibility\u2026 we\u2019re here to stay.\u201d<\/p>\n TransNetwork President Callen Jones<\/a> followed.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are a community that intersects with every other identity group,\u201d they advised. \u201cWe are all races, all abilities, all religions, all socioeconomic classes. We are everywhere and unfortunately we\u2019re in a time right now where folks are telling us to be less \u2014 we\u2019re not going to be.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are here, we\u2019re focused on joy, we\u2019re focused on resilience,\u201d Jones stressed. \u201c\u2026 We hope we can see you next year in this capacity.\u201d<\/p>\n Council members subsequently shared their support.<\/p>\n Council member Gina Driscoll<\/a> vowed that \u201cno matter what happens somewhere else that we have to go along with, it doesn\u2019t change the fact that St. Petersburg is a place where everyone is seen, safe and celebrated. That will not stop.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI see you,\u201d Council member Deborah Figgs-Sanders<\/a> added. \u201cNo matter what happens\u2026 injustice for one is injustice for us all.\u201d<\/p>\n Council member Richie Floyd<\/a> thanked the advocates in attendance for being visible. \u201cThe courage that it takes to be publicly active in this advocacy is really inspiring to me,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Council member Lissett Hanewicz<\/a> was the last to speak, adding that \u201cwe have to embrace love. She noted that \u201cthe hate can sound very loud lately and it\u2019s hard to ignore it, but when you go out to the community there is much more love out there \u2026 continue to be yourselves. Period.\u201d<\/p>\n View the full St. Petersburg City Council meeting here.<\/a><\/p>\n The city subsequently reflected on TDOV via social media. They called it \u201ca day to celebrate the strength, courage, and achievements of transgender and gender diverse people who make our city stronger \u2014 our neighbors, artists, business owners, students, volunteers, and civic leaders,\u201d noting that \u201cSt. Pete is a better city because you\u2019re in it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cVisibility matters, especially when others try to dim it,\u201d St Pete Pride also shared. \u201cWe\u2019re grateful to our city leaders for recognizing the importance of visibility, and St Pete Pride remains committed to uplifting and advocating for our trans, non-binary, and gender-expansive community.\u201d<\/p>\n View the full proclamation below:<\/p>\n Sign up for the Watermark Out News eNewsletter<\/a> \u00a0and follow us for more: \t
BlueSky<\/a> | Facebook<\/a> | Instagram<\/a> | LinkedIn<\/a> | TikTok<\/a> | Threads<\/a> | YouTube<\/a><\/p>\n