Fight Back! News

News and Views from the People's Struggle

LGBTQ

By Zeke Greenwood

Over 40 students gathered to protest anti gay law in Tallahassee, FL

Tallahassee, FL – On Monday, April 18, Florida State University Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) held a march against Florida’s repressive HB1557. Led by SDS officers Isabela Casanova and Chudi Oraedu, a group of roughly 40 students marched from FSU’s Legacy Fountain to the Integration Statue, chanting “Homophobia has got to go” and “Trans lives matter.”

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By Mark Napieralski

Students win victory, impeach Turning Point USA president of student government.

Arlington, TX – April 4 was a great victory for the student movement at the University of Texas at Arlington. The impeachment proceedings against Caitlyn Burge-Surles, the racist Turning Point USA leader and then-president of student government, happened with over 50 people in attendance both inside and outside the student government chambers.

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By staff

Arlington, TX students protest racists in student government.

Arlington, TX – On March 24, an email went out to senators of the University of Texas at Arlington student government detailing screenshots from the Turning Point USA discord server that revealed the student government President Caitlyn Burge-Surles and student government Chief of Staff Alyssa Spencer engaging in racist, transphobic and generally bigoted rhetoric.

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By Delilah Pierre

Tallahassee, FL – Congratulations, Tallahassee. A “100” score on the 2021 Municipal Equality Index is something to be proud of.

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By Mark Napieralski

Arlington students rally for trans rights.

Arlington, TX – On March 23, Progressive Student Union at the University of Texas at Arlington held a protest condemning the transphobic attacks that Governor Greg Abbott and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick have imposed on Texan families. Both men attempted to direct the state Department of Family and Protective Custody to consider gender reaffirming therapeutics, such as puberty blockers, hormonal treatment and other aspects of trans healthcare, to be classified as “child abuse,” thereby making both families that support their trans youth and licensed professionals who are either aware of or support said youths getting the necessary healthcare liable to charges of “child abuse” or “abetting child abuse.”

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By Quest Riggs

Youth lead 250-person march under banner that says “Hear us! See us! Trans Right

New Orleans, LA – Around 250 community members gathered at New Orleans City Hall, March 25, to forcefully voice their opposition to a string of legislation introduced by Louisiana Republicans in recent weeks. This includes bills that would restrict trans minors’ access to healthcare, their ability to participate in school sports, and could criminalize LGBTQ+ students and educators for being “out” in Louisiana schools.

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By Joe Nohava

International Women's Day protest in Tampa, FL.

Tampa, FL – In light of the continuing attacks on reproductive and women’s rights, both here in Florida and across the country, members of Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), and other organizations in the Tampa area held a rally this past Saturday, March 5 on the corner of Bearss and Florida Avenues.

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By Serena Sojic-Borne

Jin Xin

New Orleans, LA – This year, transgender star and People’s Liberation Army veteran Jin Xing announced the re-launch of her talk show. It aired from 2015 to 2017 as the most-watched show in China. With 100 million viewers, Jin was the world’s most popular trans celebrity. Her rise to fame foretells the Chinese people’s rise against transphobia.

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By Serena Sojic-Borne

Forum speakers from Texas and Louisiana discuss abortion and trans rights.

New Orleans, LA – On December 11, people from Texas and Louisiana came together to discuss recent attacks on reproductive freedom and transgender rights. They held an in-person forum at the New Orleans First Unitarian Universalist Church, with virtual attendance through Zoom and social media.

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By staff

On November 22, Tallahassee activists gathered on Transgender Day of Remembrance. Tallahassee Community Action Committee. Florida Coalition for Transgender Liberation, Planned Parenthood, Students for A Democratic Society, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and the Pride Student Union held a march and vigil for Transgender Day of Remembrance, an international day of solidarity and remembrance of the transgender lives lost every year.

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By staff

Tallahassee , FL – On November 13, the Tallahassee Community Action Committee (TCAC) led a march to the headquarters of the Tallahassee Police Department calling for the resignation of police chief Lawrence Revell as well as City Manager Reese Goad. Revell recently spoke at a religious retreat for law enforcement executives hosted by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, a known anti-LGBTQIA+ group that has made claims such as “trans activists are in league with ‘many homosexuals’ and are ‘propagandizing, grooming, and mutilating children.’”

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By Quest Riggs

Participants in Trans March of Resilience march through downtown New Orleans.

New Orleans, LA – On November 19, over 100 trans activists and their friends defiantly gathered at New Orleans City Hall. On the day recognized nationally as Trans Day of Remembrance, their fourth annual Trans March of Resilience emphasized the struggles that trans people face to survive.

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By Quest Riggs

Participants in Trans March of Resilience march through downtown New Orleans.

New Orleans, LA – On November 19, over 100 trans activists and their friends defiantly gathered at New Orleans City Hall. On the day recognized nationally as Trans Day of Remembrance, their fourth annual Trans March of Resilience emphasized the struggles that trans people face to survive.

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By staff

Denver, CO – On November 16, students gathered on Auraria Campus to stand against attacks on reproductive rights. The event was held by Denver Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and The Brazen Project. Members of each organization gave speeches advocating for reproductive rights and bringing attention to the recently enacted Texas Heartbeat Act. Students protested the ban and advanced the demand that women have access to safe and legal abortions in Texas and across the U.S.

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By staff

Speakers push resolution on gender-affirming IDs in front of City Council.

New Orleans, LA – On November 4, the New Orleans city council voted unanimously to endorse accessible name and gender marker changes on IDs. Their resolution doesn’t carry legal weight, but it pressures the Louisiana state government to make its ID change process accessible.

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By staff

Toni Jones speaks at Capitol after protesters disrupted legislative session.

Fight Back! News Service is circulating the following statement by Real Name Campaign NOLA.

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By Serena Sojic-Borne

Eden Abraham speaks after police forced protesters out of the Capitol.

Baton Rouge, LA – On July 20 at 11:30 a.m., a group of protesters interrupted the Louisiana legislature’s veto override session to denounce the proposed transgender sports ban.

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By Serena Sojic-Borne

Protesters take to the streets to oppose the trans sports ban.

New Orleans, LA – On July 11, 50 protesters took to the streets to fight back against Louisiana’s possible ban on transgender kids playing sports. Unexpected heavy rains drenched them soon after they started walking.

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By staff

Oshkosh, WI – On June 30, over 60 people of all ages met to socialize safely and to discuss issues that impact the LGBTQ community, and the damage that homophobia creates for youth. Due to the impact of COVID-19 over the last year and a half many teens felt isolated and disconnected from supportive peers and inclusive spaces.

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By Serena Sojic-Borne

TGNC people and allies rally at the state capitol’s front steps.

Baton Rouge, LA – On June 22, Governor John Bell Edwards vetoed Louisiana’s transgender sports ban, the state’s last anti-transgender bill. The legislation was Louisiana’s second attempted sports ban this year, on top of two failed healthcare bans.

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