ABOVE: The 2019 National Transgender Visibility March in D.C. (Photo by Michael Kay of The Washington Blade)
ORLANDO | The National Trans Visibility March (NTVM), which first filled the streets of Washington, D.C. with thousands of transgender and gender nonconforming activists in September 2019, will return to an on-the-ground march, this time bringing the march to Orlando.
“This past year, NTVM focused on the 2020 Elections with the ‘My Vote Is My Voice’ initiative and hosted the NTVM in a virtual format,” said Marissa Miller, CEO and founder of the NTVM, in a press release. “This year’s theme, ‘No Lives Left Behind,’ will focus on regional safety plans to address the number of tumultuous murders that are continually taking place with trans identified people. We are taking the National Trans Visibility March back to the streets and on this day, where we celebrate National Trans Visibility Day, we are so pleased to announce that we have selected Orlando, Florida as the host city.”
The NTVM will collaborate with the One Orlando Alliance, which serves as the march’s local host organization, and will take place in conjunction with Orlando’s Come Out With Pride festival and parade Oct. 9.
“One Orlando Alliance is grateful to have this opportunity to highlight and stand alongside our amazing transgender and non-binary community and local transgender/non-binary leaders. Hosting the March here in Orlando is an honor,” Josh Bell, One Orlando Alliance’s executive director, said in the release.
According to its website, the NTVM will kick off with a week of events starting with the opening celebration in Orlando Oct. 4. The week will include an Empowerment Service and the NTVM Torch Awards culminating with the march on Saturday.
The Gender Advancement Project, a trans-led grassroots movement in Central Florida dedicated to the progression and inclusion of transgender and gender nonbinary individuals in all facets of society, will serve as local leaders for the march.
“We, at Gender Advancement Project, are very excited to welcome our fellow transgender community members and allies from across the nation to our City Beautiful,” said Ashley Figueroa, founder and executive director of the Gender Advancement Project, in the release. “Over the past few years, our local transgender community has unified and become a strong movement, like it has never been seen before. We are happy to showcase this growth and progression, inclusive of our two local trans-led organizations, Divas in Dialogue, as well as Gender Advancement Project.”
For more information on the National Trans Visibility March, visit NationalTransMarch.com.
