The ACLU of Missouri is hosting a series of rallies around issues such as transgender healthcare as part of a 10-day campaign.
The campaign, called the “10 days of trans demands,” is a state-wide tour starting in St. Louis and ending with National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11. The campaign aims to support the trans community and promote a recently published trans ally toolkit.
ACLU is hosting a rally in Columbia at Peace Park Friday from 5-7 p.m. focusing on transgender healthcare resources.
Jay-Marie Hill, an ACLU of Missouri trans education program coordinator, said the rally is meant to promote healthcare resources in Columbia to trans and gender non-conforming people.
Jordan Richards, Transgender Blender coordinator for The Center Project, said Columbia has a free transgender clinic through the University of Missouri and several trans-friendly doctors. But some people outside of Columbia struggle to get the care they need due to limited resources.
“We’re lucky to have a clinic here that’s free. But you know, folks who are living right outside Columbia and don’t have transportation, it’s hard for them to get to those places,” Richards said.
Jay-Marie Hill, an ACLU of Missouri trans education program coordinator, said the rally is meant to promote healthcare resources in Columbia to trans and gender non-conforming people.
She said there are around 25,000 transgender and gender non-conforming people living in Missouri. Hills said the transgender community often gathers in support during times of tragedy, such as Transgender Day of Remembrance, but the community deserves to gather in support regularly.
“I want us to get used to it,” Hills said. “I want us to get used to the fact that we are gender liberated beings. We should be getting together and gathering and not only reinforcing and fortifying ourselves, but also showing other people what it’s like to be liberated in this way.”