ABOVE: (L-R) Nate Taylor, Nathan Bruemmer, Mayor Ken Welch, Rasheeda Johnson, Prin Ocea and City Council Chair Gina Driscoll March 10. Photo courtesy City of St. Pete.
ST. PETERSBURG | Mayor Ken Welch issued a proclamation declaring March 31 as Transgender Day of Visibility in the city earlier this month, reflecting on St. Petersburg’s commitment to equality.
TDoV is dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of transgender people worldwide while also raising awareness of the work needed to save their lives. The proclamation marked the first LGBTQ-focused declaration from Welch, a longtime ally who made history with his election late last year.
“Transgender Day of Visibility celebrates transgender representation, activism and equality,” the proclamation begins. It subsequently acknowledges “the resilience of transgender individuals throughout history and how they have contributed to the betterment of society and made our American tapestry even more vibrant.”
It also reflects on anti-LGBTQ legislation from Tallahassee. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 1557 – Parental Rights in Education, more widely known as the “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” bill – into law March 28. He’d previously signed the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act” into law, legislation targeting transgender youth.
“Gender is a spectrum, and we honor the bravery of the many transgender individuals who live in this vibrant city that is guided by principled progress and intentional inclusivity in their authentic gender,” the proclamation closes.
Welch first issued the proclamation during a St. Petersburg City Council meeting March 10. He read and reflected on its message beside Metro Inclusive Health’s Nate Taylor, Prin Ocea and Rasheeda Johnson, as well as LGBTQ Liaison Jim Nixon and Nathan Bruemmer, LGBTQ consumer advocate for the state of Florida.
Watch below, courtesy of the City of St. Petersburg:
You can also view the proclamation in full and read its text here:
WHEREAS, Transgender Day of Visibility celebrates transgender representation, activism and equality; and
WHEREAS, We come together as a community to promote visibility and fairness to all transgender individuals; and
WHEREAS, We acknowledge the resilience of transgender individuals throughout history and how they have contributed to the betterment of society and made our American tapestry even more vibrant; and
WHEREAS, We believe everyone should be treated with respect and dignity in society and lawmaking. However, repeated legislative attacks on trans people in Florida have made trans communities feel disrespected, neglected, and restricted as Florida citizens; and
WHEREAS, Gender is a spectrum, and we honor the bravery of the many transgender individuals who live in this vibrant city that is guided by principled progress and intentional inclusivity in their authentic gender;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Kenneth T. Welch, Mayor of the City of St. Petersburg,
Florida, do hereby proclaim March 31, 2022 as
TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBLITY
in St. Petersburg, and I encourage all citizens to treat each other with dignity and respect, without exception.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the official Seal of the City of St. Petersburg, County of Pinellas, and State of Florida to be affixed this 10th day of March, 2022.
Kenneth T. Welch, Mayor
The mayor subsequently reflected on TDoV via social media, as well as his Tampa Bay placement for favorite local politician in the 2022 Watermark Awards for Variety and Excellence. View it below.
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