'Let us live, help us thrive': Montrealers show support, voice demands at Trans March

Eddy Bourgeois says it was "a euphoric feeling" to see numerous people with similarlife experiences as him gathered together toshowlove and support to each other.

Bourgeois, 17,was one of hundreds of members of the trans community and its supporterswho turned out for Montreal's Trans Marchon Saturday afternoon.

"I'm reallyproud of my community that we can stand strong together," he said."It's important to be visible, to have a sense of community all together and to say that we are here, we're queer and we're proud."

This year's march, which began atPlace du Canada and ended atPlace milie-Gamelinin downtown Montreal, took placein the context of increased anti-trans rhetoric andlegislation restricting access to health care for trans people in the U.S.and U.K., along with a rise inanti-LGBT hate in Canada.

Celeste Trianon, a trans activist and organizer of the march, said she wanted the demonstration to show that hate is not welcome in Quebec.

"We are here to say no to anti-trans hate, to stand strong together and send a powerfulmessage that our community is here to stay," she said.

She said the community's demands Saturday could be summed up in one sentence: "Let us live, help us thrive."

Trianonsaid this means not only eradicating anti-trans hate, but seeing more funding for LGBTQ+ groups, better health care for trans people and an X gender markeron provincial IDs, which is still not available more than one year after Bill 2 came into effect.

"We really just hope that trans people get to live their best lives," she said.

For their part, AoifeDarling said they feltabeautiful sense of community while walking down the street with a trans pride flag painted on their face ahead of the march.

"People seeing me and smiling at me and telling me they'regoing too or that they wish they can go and that they support the marchis really cool," Darling said.

Darling also said shereceived just as many looks from people who appeared to be uncomfortable seeing her present this way.

"So I think it's important to be as visible as possible at events like this.," she said.

Khadija Mbowesaid they showed up because they're tired of people talking about being allies without taking further action.

"I want accomplices," they said. "Accomplicesmeans that it'sactual action, there is actual backing behind your words ... you're showing up where your body is visible."

They also said it's time that people stop comparing Canada's track record with LGBTQ+ rightsto those of other countries.

"Why are you looking to people that are worse than you to be like, 'Well, I'm not as badas them,'" they said.

"You should be aiming to be better and be the example."