New England Trans Pride March

There is a seperate effort, New England Trans United, happening in Northampton in October. This event is NOT New England Trans Pride, it is a different effort. If you want to get involved you can search for them online.

Posted in Breaking News

My name is justin adkins, I was on the steering committee last year
for New England Trans Pride and I have been helping organize this
years event. I am sad to say that this year we will not be holding New
England Trans Pride March and Rally.

Last year the event was a success! We saw over 1,000 trans people and
their allies converge on Northampton, MA to march and rally for our
rights. The speakers and performers all shared the same message, Trans
rights NOW!

There were two efforts this year to hold a Trans Pride event in New
England. One was based out of Northampton and another in Vermont, I
supported both efforts. Because of a variety of reasons neither effort
was successful. But basically, our community has not stepped up to do
the nitty gritty of organizing this event. Yes, we all love a good
parade but this parade is more than just fun and games. As a community
we can not just attend these events we need to help organize them.
This was a march for our rights! This march was to support issues such
as the MA house bill last year. This year we see three of our New
England states addressing our issues. We need to stand up and be
heard.

As I travel around New England and speak to trans people I see the
same few people organizing and the same crowd attending. We all need
to join in these efforts. The attenders need to help organize.

Some have said that because of the economy this year is not the time
to celebrate. Though I understand that it is not a good time for them
I disagree that is a time to celebrate, this is our time! Trans
rights are moving ahead in New England and trans people need to be
seen as those moving with the regional organizations.

Organizations such as GLAD serve ALL of New England and have been the
driving organizations for marriage and transgender rights in our
region.

If you are out of work, which I know that many of you are as we have
one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation and these are hard
economic times, organize! Spend 6 hours a day looking for work and
give 2 to trans organizing. We can all do this together, and only
together. We need to stop the internal bickering and band together.
Trans women, trans men, genderqueer folks all together fighting hard
for our rights. Other communities have left us behind, we need to move
together.

With no Trans Pride this year what can we do? First, support the
legislation in your state (if you are in MA, CT, or NH). Second, even
if there is no current legislation addressing our issues in your state
go meet your representatives at the state and national level. Let your
government know that you exist. Third, help plan for a Trans Pride
next year. My personal hope is to see this event move from state to
state, each year in a different place, to be a true New England event.
Help make this happen by getting some dedicated individuals together,
then contact me, I will put you in touch with the group that planned
last years event, we will all help you to be a success! Lastly, be
yourself and take care of yourself. Being trans is not the easiest
thing I have ever done, I know many of you can relate. Take care of
yourself, get out of the house, connect with other trans people, go
back to school just to be in a classroom. And remember, you are
special and wonderful!

So, overall, I’m sorry that we will not have an event this year. But,
next year I know that some of you out there will be ready. And this
year I know that we will all, TOGETHER, get some amazing work done in
New England.

In solidarity,
justin adkins
info@justinadkins.com

Posted in Uncategorized

Hi everybody,

We are getting geared up for this years NEW ENGLAND Trans Pride March and Rally. To be truly a New England event we hope to hit all 6 states in 6 years!! This year we are planning to march and rally in Vermont’s capital - Montpelier, VT.

This can not be done by just a couple people. We need local people, in Vermont to help. We also need a team of people throughout New England to band together.

Yes, this is a difficult financial time for many of us. However, this is the time when we need to band together as a supportive community and show the world that we are here and we demand equal rights and protection. The Gay and Lesbian movement is primarily focused on marriage in many of our communities. This is a prime time to harness that activist spirit to fight for our rights!

Trans Pride will happen in August this year to commemorate the Compton’s Cafeteria Riot which occurred in August 1966 in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco. This incident was the first recorded transgender riot in United States history.

We need point people to fill the following tasks:

Permit person to organize the needed permits in Montpelier (ideally this would be someone with experience marching in that capital)
Speaker coordinator (to coordinate speakers travel and accommodation - Focus this year on regional speakers)
Publicity (to coordinate publicity throughout New England)
Vendor coordinator (to ask local and regional organizations to have tables about their services and to find at least 2 food vendors)
Stage coordinator (to find a company to set up stage and sound, and to find a company to provide tables and chairs)
Fundraiser extraordinare (to send out financial request letters and make phone calls for financial support)
Transportation communicator (to help coordinate people for transportation throughout New England so that all people who want to come to Montpelier are able)

If you are able to fill any of these rolls please contact me asap.

WE CAN DO THIS!! TRANS RIGHTS NOW!!

-justin

Posted in Breaking News, Planning