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Trans people, supporters rally on Trans Day of Visibility [1]
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Date: 2025-04-01
Dozens of people gathered near Tulane University’s campus for a rally and march recognizing the International Transgender Day of Visibility on Monday (March 31).
The event began in front of Tulane University’s NROTC building on Freret Street with speeches that celebrated trans and queer people and criticized ever-present and increasing attacks on their safety and autonomy. After a series of speeches, the group of students, activists and other supporters of the trans community marched through streets near Loyola University and Tulane, ending in front of Loyola’s campus on St. Charles Avenue.
Nat Schrodt, a Loyola student who spoke at the rally, criticized the Trump administration’s policies targeting trans people and other marginalized communities.
“Since January 20, the unprecedented volume of the legislative attacks has only grown, alongside a slew of executive orders that seek to restrict access to gender affirming care, eliminate DEI, eroding existing workplace protections and more,” Schrodt said.
“These attacks are because of our power, because of our resilience. The caricatures of trans people that have permeated public consciousness seek to [de]humanize and alienate us, precisely because our authenticity in the face of adversity inspires others to be their fullest selves.”
The rally and celebration comes as an unprecedented amount of anti-trans legislation and policy has been introduced at the state and national level.
PHOTOS: Trans Day of Visibility recognized at uptown rally and march
Juleea Berthelot (left) and Quest Riggs (right) hold a banner that reads “Trans Day of Vengeance” at a rally held on Freret Street for International Transgender Day of Visibility on Monday, March 31, 2025. Credit: John Gray / Verite News
People attending the rally and subsequent march near the campus of Tulane University carried signs with messaging and calls to action supportive of the trans community on Monday, March 31, 2025. Credit: John Gray / Verite News
Quest Riggs speaks at the rally on Freret street while holding a trans flag on Freret Street on Monday, March 31, 2025. Credit: John Gray / Verite News
Nat Schrodt, a Loyola student activist, criticized President Trump and the GOP’s attack on the Trans community in a speech on Freret Street on Monday, March 31, 2025. Credit: John Gray / Verite News
People who attended the rally on Freret Street hold signs with pro-trans messages on Monday, March 31, 2025. Credit: John Gray / Verite News
The Trans Day of Visibility rally and march began on Tulane’s campus on Freret Street and concluded on St. Charles Avenue in front of Loyola’s campus on Monday, March 31, 2025. Credit: John Gray / Verite News
Andrew Antonelli holds a sign that reads, “The T is not silent,” on Calhoun Street on Monday, March 31, 2025. Credit: John Gray / Verite News
An upside down American flag is flown above a trans flag on Calhoun Street on Monday, March 31, 2025. Credit: John Gray / Verite News
Molly Frayle gives a speech calling for unity in the face of anti-trans attacks in front of Loyola’s campus on Monday, March 31, 2025. Credit: John Gray / Verite News
Last year, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signed three anti-trans bills into law targeting trans people’s access to bathrooms, curtailing discussions around gender or sexual orientation in schools and protecting teachers who misgender their nonbinary students.
Since President Donald Trump took office, he’s signed a trio of executive orders targeting the transgender community, including recognizing only two genders and attempting to stop trans women from playing sports with cisgender women, banning transgender people from serving in the military and preventing people under 19 from accessing gender-affirming care.
Natalie Rupp, executive director of the Trans Income Project, a nonprofit providing direct support for trans people living in Louisiana, told Verite News that she has worked to provide name change forms for people and discussed her personal experience under new federal policies.
“My passport is not gonna reflect who I am, it just simply will not and it cannot,” Rupp said. “And that is a statement from the federal government that says ‘I do see you, but I hate you, or you do not exist.’”
Rupp also gave a speech in which she voiced her frustrations with the holiday, saying that trans people are constantly visible in daily life, but not treated as full people.
“Today is the day where we’re trying to make it clear that our unique individual rights need to be seen as fully human, and they are not right now in the United States, they’re not here, they’re not around the world, and they are not here in Louisiana,” Rupp said after the speech.
“This is a day where we all need to realize that when anyone in the United States is oppressed, or anyone is deemed to be not acceptable, the country as a whole is not okay.”
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[1] Url:
https://veritenews.org/2025/04/01/trans-day-of-visibility-tdov-2025/
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