Boston residents and transgender rights activists rallied in front of Massachusetts State House Jan. 30 to call for unity in the wake of President Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting the transgender community. The rally was organized by the Transgender Unity Coalition, or TUC, an advocacy nonprofit dedicated to empowering transgender communities across America.
TUC orchestrated rallies in nine other states from noon to 3 p.m. on the same day, including California, Texas, Michigan and more conservative-leaning states like Kentucky and Utah. Most of these rallies were held in front of the state’s Capitol building.
Megan Rodehorst, the rally leader for the Massachusetts branch of the TUC, opened the rally with a speech about advocating for transgender rights.
“Your voices, your advocacy, your willingness to challenge injustice in spaces where we are not welcome — that is how we win,” Rodehorst said. “To the elected officials and government leaders who can hear the sound of my voice and have supported us in the past, thank you. Thank you for standing up for us, not just when it was easy, but when it was necessary.”
During Trump’s first week of office, he passed several executive orders limiting the rights of transgender people, including prohibiting transgender individuals from enlisting in the military, banning federally-funded educational institutions from allowing students to identify with chosen names and pronouns and upending federal policies protecting incarcerated transgender people. Now, activists in Boston find the need to speak up all the more prevalent.
“I would say that [Trump] needs to stop choosing hate and needs to understand that people are being harmed with what he does and what he says,” said Lee, a local resident who gave a speech during the rally about remaining strong as a community and who identified only by their first name due to safety concerns as a result of their gender. “I think if he could just see us in person, he could have a little bit more empathy.”
Others at the rally, though, found this idealistic outlook unlikely and wanted to send a more direct message to Trump.
“I would say a message to Trump is we’re not scared, we’re not going to hide, we’re going to be visible and we’re going to fight back. We’re not going away,” said Johanna, another local resident who asked to be identified only by their first name to remain anonymous due to safety concerns.
Massachusetts is no stranger to supporting the rights of transgender people. In 2022, the Healey-Driscoll administration passed An Act Expanding Protections for Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Care that made gender-affirming healthcare a legal, constitutionally-protected right. Massachusetts was also the first state to legalize same-sex marriage and has continued to be a relatively left-leaning state, with every county in this past presidential election voting for Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. Despite this, those at the rally still found it important to advocate for a larger, country-wide purpose.
“If we didn’t live in the country, this would be different. It’s really significant to have these scopes. Like me, my family, my state, my country because people choose to care at every level,” said Julia Turcotti, a co-organizer of the rally. “I’m not paying attention to being a Massachusetts citizen, I’m just paying attention to the fact that I’m a citizen of the country and I’m choosing to spread my love and care at this moment.”
Some of those at the rally stood on the top step in front of the State House, sharing personal anecdotes and inspiring messages. Sydney Light, a software developer, shared a speech on the importance of remaining hopeful and united.
“I was inspired to go up there because I’ve seen a lot of fear in my community,” Light said. “I wanted people to know that there is reason to be hopeful, there is reason not to just be depressed and feel like you are alone, because people aren’t alone.”
Cars driving by the Statehouse honked in support of the rally as protesters chanted things like “trans rights are human rights” and “we know who we are.” Food, sunscreen and water were provided for all who attended.
Andrew Pham, a first-year undeclared major at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, does not identify as transgender but felt the need to show up and support the community.
“The reason I came here is because I wanted to show my support for my friends who aren’t traditionally male or female,” Pham said. “Because even though, right now, the U.S. might not be very trans-friendly, this rally is an enclave and sort of like a place of peace.”
Despite the frigid weather, supporters stood tall, dancing to the music that played in between speeches and wearing proud smiles on their faces.
“We are not just here to be seen,” Rodehorst said in her opening speech. “We are here to act. This rally is not just the beginning, and it is not the end. It is a declaration, a promise that we will keep fighting, that we will push back against the fear, against the defeat and against those who wish to erase us out of existence.”
