'We want people to see us:' Erie transgender community rallies, shares experiences

Even the cold temperatures could not stop the Erie transgender community and their supporters from rallying at Perry Square on Monday during an International Transgender Day of Visibility event.

More than 100 participants gathered downtown to deliver the message that the transgender community exists in Erie.

“We want people to see us, we want people to hear us and we want people to know that we are alive and thriving and doing well,” said Tyler Titus, a participant and Erie City Council member. “We will always be here and we want the community to see that it is possible to be who you are as your full self and to come together in community. That is what Trans Day of Visibility is all about.”

Why was the event held at Perry Square?

The transgender community and their supporters made their message clear, they want to be seen.

Participants stated they could have held the rally indoors, but they felt that it wouldn't help spread the message of visibility.

"Trans Day of Visibility is a day to be visible," rallygoer Mulnah Dovat said. "Visibility has it’s beauties and it’s burdens. Unfortunately, with visibility comes risks. We are visible for ourselves, for others and for those who can’t be cause that’s sad reality of today how many people can’t be visible."

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Sharing their identity and expressing what matters

The gathering began at 6 p.m. with speeches from members of the transgender community on why not just this day, but every day matters for them to be visible.

Participants through the rally were able to share their stories and express some of their daily struggles and battles.

"Battle is correct because there’s a lot of hate out there," participant Ashton Houser said. "A lot of people can misinform and just say some really rotten stuff, and it can really beat down people."

Houser was one of the speakers who shared the experience on what it is like being a transgender youth.

"I didn’t know that I was trans until about sixth grade, but I knew I was queer in third grade," Houser said. "I had looked through my identity online and found a lot of transphobic junk and that beat me down a lot. I still managed to push through."

Dovant, another speaker at the rally, hopes that one day there will be a more positive view on the transgender community.

"We have just as much right to exist as any other identity," Dovat said. "Visibility should not be the product of privilege. We have as much of a right to be visible as anyone else. Hopefully, one day being trans will be as casual as having red hair."

Dovat continued, "but for now we have to make a big deal because it shouldn’t be that visibility is the end goal. Visibility is where it starts. Visibility doesn’t grant us protection or guarantee us safety. It’s just the starting part."

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Seeing support from the community

It wasn't just the transgender community of Erie that showed up to the rally. Multiple supporters from organizations, along with allies, attended to show their care and hope.

Rose Davis from Trans Family of Northwest PA rallied alongside members and made sure that the support and resources for the trans community was known.

"Being queer or being trans, a lot of times people feel isolated," Davis said. "Sometimes they are not accepted by their families. They can be discriminated against by their jobs and they have trouble fitting in with their communities. So here is a place where they can find community with each other, meet other trans people and just be there for each other."

Michael Mahler from Erie Gay News was in attendance photographing and offering support.

"People should be aware that when they talk politically about a community that it is actual human beings with actual lives who are just as worthy of dignity," Mahler said. "You may not know someone is trans. I’ve had people come out to me as trans and I would not have known that and I feel honored when someone tells me that because when someone tells you that it means they trust you. They can just be as wonderful people and I’m proud to be a friend."

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Where to learn more about the Erie transgender community?

In Erie and across the nation there are resources available for transgender individuals. Here are just some of the local resources available to the trans community:

• Transfamily of NWPA: An organization created to serve the transgender community of northwestern Pennsylvania serving Erie, Crawford, and Warren counties.

• Findhelp.org: Offers a list of support links from legal information to counseling services to mentorship and more.

• LGBTQ+ Council: An advisory council created within the Erie government to inform the team about issues facing LGBTQ+ families, friends and colleagues.

• Erie Gay News: Provides a list of resources available for not only the Erie trans community but Erie LGBTQIA+ community.

• NWPA Pride Alliance: Its mission is to enhance visibility, foster unity, and promote acceptance through diverse events and programs to create an inclusive space for all in northwestern Pennsylvania.

• Compton's Table: a 501(c)3 nonprofit located in Erie, Pennsylvania specializing in curating safe spaces for queer and gender nonconforming people.

Contact Nicholas Sorensen at Nsorensen@gannett.com.

(This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.)

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Transgender community in Erie celebrates Trans Day of Visibility