Pride to shine this weekend in Montgomery, with extra support for transgender youths

With the move from June to this weekend, temperatures won’t be blistering for Montgomery Pride marchers. But Alabama’s political climate for LGBTQ+ rights couldn’t be much hotter.

“There’s a lot of effort being made now to take away the rights of many marginalized communities,” said Meta Ellis, longtime activist and director of Montgomery Pride United. “A lot of them are rights that we’ve worked hard to gain access to. It’s our freedom to not be discriminated against. They’re trying so hard to take them away from us.”

Among the biggest concerns for this year that is sure to be vocalized Saturday is Alabama's effort to block gender-affirming medical care for transgender children.

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“They’re attacking little children,” said Ambrosia Starling, a Dothan drag queen and political activist who gained national attention in a media battle over gay marriage in Alabama. “They’re attacking these transgender kids left, right, sideways, and every way in between.”

“I think the message that we’re sending with Pride is that trans people aren’t going anywhere. LGBTQ people aren’t going anywhere,” Jose Vazquez, president of Montgomery Pride United. “We’re building beautiful futures in Alabama, and we’re here to stay.”

Someone who knows and mentors many of these children in Montgomery is Kristin Dowling, chief executive officer of Colors River Region.

“The biggest concern that I hear from the kids is that people aren’t listening,” Dowling said. “There’s a lot of misinformation that’s out there. They’re afraid. Their parents are afraid. It’s just a lot of uncertainty.”

Dowling said Alabama's stance against "gender-affirming care" is extremely vague, and that claims that surgery could be sought for youths are wrong.

“We’re talking about medically approved, well-established procedures,” Starling said. “Some of these things have been going on since the 1960s.”

Beyond medicine like hormone blockers, Dowling said gender-affirming care is things as simple as a child’s name and clothing choices.

“To be queer in the deep South is already stressful as it is. But being trans and nonbinary is a different stressful. That stress is twice as much," said MPU's diversity, equity and inclusion officer Travis Jackson, who identifies as bisexual and is a veteran who served in Iraq.

Jackson believes Alabama is entering a new "don't ask, don't tell" period where students won't reveal themselves in school for fear of being outed to their parents, and possibly being kicked out of their homes.

"We know that every parent is not for trans rights," Jackson said.

“We have a lot of kids who are afraid to go to school,” Ellis said. “They choose to be homeschooled, or drop out of school because of the problems that they have.”

Both Jackson and Starling expressed fear that suicide attempts among Alabama's transgender youth could rise.

“We need to show these kids that they’re not alone. There are other people like them,” Starling said.

“Definitely focus on the LGB, the lesbian, gay, bisexual folks, don’t get me wrong,” Jackson said. “But right now, the most persecuted group out of those letters are trans people. We’ve got to have trans advocacy as much as possible.”

Ellis said Montgomery Pride United will not stop fighting for trans kids rights. “We have the backs of our young folks. We are here to support them in any way possible,” Ellis said.

In Montgomery, last year the City Council voted down an anti-discrimination bill that would have included LGBTQ+ rights. Montgomery Mayor Steven L. Reed threatened to start sending business opportunities elsewhere, like Birmingham, until it is passed.

“We still have hopes of bringing that to light again,” Ellis said.

Religious grounds are often a source of strife against the LGBTQ+ community. Ellis said Montgomery needs more churches that are affirming.

“When you go to a place like that, and you’re being told that you’re an abomination and you have to hide who you are just to attend that church, synagogue or whatever place of worship, it’s hard," Ellis said. "It’s hard on your psyche. It’s hard on your soul. It’s not a good place to be.”

Ellis has more than a little insight into that world as the daughter of religious and civil rights leaders — the late Rev. Robert and Jean Graetz.

“They questioned it, and through a long process came to believe that being accepting of the LGBTQ people was more in keeping with their faith,” Ellis said.

Montgomery Pride United offers a list of safe faith and affirmation spaces on its website montgomeryprideunited.org.

“This is a really important crossroads in time for our whole country,” Ellis said. “It’s time for everybody, not just our community, to really pay attention and not put their heads in the sand. Be very diligent about your rights.”

Uniting in Montgomery, with cooler weather, sports competition

Ellis said the main purpose of coming together for Pride is to give people hope and instructive ways to support their community.

Before Saturday’s march, they’ll gather at 11:30 a.m. at Montgomery Pride United’s home base, the Bayard Rustin Community Center, 635 Madison Ave. The march starts at noon, and will proceed to the State Capitol steps for a rally and entertainment.

Ellis said they’ll have accommodations for disabled people for both the march and rally. Rides will be available for people who can’t make the walk.

“We will have interpreters for the deaf,” Ellis said.

With temperatures in the mid-70s, heat won’t be an issue for once.

“I’ve been jokingly telling everybody that at least we’re not going to melt our glam,” Dowling said.

Ellis said several businesses have stepped up to show support for Montgomery Pride United. Among them is Rhonda’s Sports Bar, 4128 Birmingham Highway, Montgomery, which is hosting a Halloween Pride Party on Saturday night. There are shows at 10 p.m. and midnight. Admission is $10 at the door.

“They’ve been very supportive with the community,” Ellis said.

The Pride Festival is returning Sunday to the Eat South grounds at 485 Molton St., behind the Montgomery Advertiser building. It’s free, and will be held from noon to 7 p.m.

“We haven’t had one since 2019, because of the pandemic,” Ellis said.

“We need to get back into the habit of supporting each other and supporting ourselves, especially in the current political climate,” Starling said.

One reason Montgomery Pride United didn't make the move to October sooner is competition for attention from college football. Ellis said they decided to just go for it in 2022.

“That’s funny, because I haven’t even checked to see what games are going on this weekend,” Ellis said.

While Alabama is off Saturday, Auburn will face Arkansas at 11 a.m. Locally, Alabama State, Huntingdon, and Faulkner have games.

Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel covers things to do in the River Region. Contact him at sheupel@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Pride to shine this weekend, with extra support for transgender youths