Hawaiʻi Health & Harm Reduction Center organizing March 31 sign-waving, rally
Posted: March 21, 2023
The Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association is proud to join the Hawaiʻi Health & Harm Reduction Center in celebrating International Transgender Day of Visibility on Friday, March 31.
The Center’s Kuaʻana Project, Hawaiʻi’s largest transgender services program, is organizing a sign-waving along Beretania Street in front of the state Capitol from 3 to 4:15 p.m. A rally follows at 4:30 p.m. in the Capitol rotunda, and features various leaders and supporters of the trans community.
HSTA Hilo Chapter member and longtime LGBTQ+ advocate Daphna Ehrenhalt will be one of the speakers. The Keaʻau Elementary teacher sits on the board of Hawaiʻi Island LGBTQ+ Pride, and spearheads HSTA’s Transgender 101 for Educators workshop as a member of the union’s Human and Civil Rights Committee. Ehrenhalt will also present a workshop at the upcoming National Education Association LGBTQ+ Caucus Conference in April.
“Transgender Day of Visibility is important because it shows our students that there is an entire community out there that supports them,” Ehrenhalt said. “As educators, we must recognize that trans people exist, and have always existed, in the world. We have a responsibility to welcome our trans students into our schools and classrooms, teach them how to be valued members of our community, and tell them we’re happy they’re here, and that they’re loved.”
The lineup will also include state Rep. Adrian Tam, Hawaiʻi State Equality Caucus co-chair; Honolulu Managing Director Michael Formby; Honolulu City Council Member Tyler Dos Santos-Tam; Kumu Hinaleimoana Kwai Wong-Kalu; and Spill the Tea Cafe Executive Director Haylin Dennison and youth participants.
Michigan trans advocate Rachel Crandall created International Trans Day of Visibility in 2010 to raise awareness about and empower trans and gender-nonconforming people to live authentically, while standing up to the ongoing violence, stigma, and discrimination against them.