Across the country and right here in North Dakota, political attacks against transgender people have grown exponentially over the last several years.
From discriminatory bills passed into law to harassment and threats of violence, there is a well-orchestrated effort to push trans people out of public life. This intolerance against a marginalized group of people is a distraction from our state’s real needs and hurts us all.
That’s why the ACLU of North Dakota, Gender Justice, North Dakota Human Rights Coalition, Planned Parenthood and Prairie Action North Dakota have teamed up to promote trans visibility in an effort to enhance awareness and rights for transgender, nonbinary, intersex and Two Spirit people.
“Trans people belong everywhere and should be able to live openly and authentically without discrimination, harassment or violence,” said Cody Schuler, ACLU of North Dakota advocacy manager. “When it comes to ensuring that trans people can live openly without discrimination and enjoy equal rights, personal autonomy, and freedom of expression and association, visibility matters.”
In Fargo, City Hall will be lit up in pink and blue to support transgender North Dakotans on Saturday night and Mayor Dr. Tim Mahoney is honoring International Transgender Day of Visibility on Sunday with a signed proclamation of the day in Fargo, calling on residents to recognize and reaffirm their commitment to combating discrimination.
Additionally, Raise the Trans Flag is a statewide digital effort to encourage people to change their social media profile pictures to the transgender flag and culminates with the online broadcast of a video from trans North Dakotans celebrating the job of being themselves at 9 p.m. Sunday.
About the ACLU of North Dakota
The American Civil Liberties Union of North Dakota is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of civil liberties and civil rights. The ACLU of North Dakota is part of a three-state chapter that also includes South Dakota and Wyoming. The team in North Dakota is supported by staff in those states.
The ACLU believes freedoms of press, speech, assembly and religion, and the rights to due process, equal protection and privacy, are fundamental to a free people. In addition, the ACLU seeks to advance constitutional protections for groups traditionally denied their rights, including people of color, women and LGBTQ+ and Two Spirit communities. The ACLU of North Dakota carries out its work through selective litigation, lobbying at the state and local level, and through public education and awareness of what the Bill of Rights means for the people of North Dakota.
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