Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
‘ALL KIDS BELONG’
Demonstrators rally in support of transgender athletes
WEST CHESTER >> What was envisioned as a protest of a speaker’s appearance across town at a separate event instead became a spirited 200-person rally for LGTBQ rights, Wednesday evening, at the historic courthouse.
The “All Kids Belong” rally was organized after the “Common Sense Coalition” scheduled state Rep. Martina White, R170th, Philadelphia to speak at a Wednesday event at TECA restaurant.
White is the prime sponsor of a bill that would ban transgender athletes from participating in school sports. The Common Sense Coalition advertised its event as a discussion of initiatives concerning the governor’s emergency powers, which will be ballot questions at the May 18 primary.
Participating organizations for the rally included, Chester County Marching Forward, West Chester Alliance for Social Justice, PFlag, LBGTQ+ CC Alliance for Social Justice and Trans-parent.
Days before the TECA event, White’s appearance was cancelled and she was replaced with Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry President and CEO Guy Ciarrocchi. Still, regardless, the courthouse rally went on anyway.
At the rally, state Rep. Dianne Herrin, D-156th, West Chester said that White’s HB 972 discriminates.
“These legislators are acting like school yard bullies and they are going after our kids,” Herrin told the ralliers. “Both the NCAA and the International Olympic Committee know how to embrace transgender players through thoughtful and inclusive policy, and that’s how it should be done.
“It should not be legislated. We all belong, I belong, you belong, every one of us belongs, because all kids belong.”
Jeanne Dickenson talked about their transgender experience.
“Growing up I never understood gender,” they said. “I was never quite sure where I fit in.
“I don’t understand what is so wrong about finding out who you are.”
State Rep. Melissa Shusterman, D-157th, Schuylkill said that for 10 years, when she was growing up, her family hosted LGTBQ members at their home.
“The community brought me in and they are my friends, my neighbors, my community and people I look up to,” Shusterman said.
Dave Magrogan, former owner of Kildare’s and Doc Magrogans restaurants, and now a chain of restaurants, attended the TECA event and released the following statement:
“The event to discuss the ballot initiatives to limit the Governor’s powers was not intended to hurt our LGBTQ+ neighbors. The original speaker was selected because she was an avid supporter of small businesses during the pandemic and the Vote Yes PA initiative. We regret that we were unaware of the legislation causing pain and fear in the LGBTQ+ community, it was not our intention to upset any community members and we apologized.
“On April, 8th, one day after receiving a call from a community leader, we updated our speaker to make our event more inclusive to our community. We apologized, and reassured the community our event was not about transgender legislation in any form, and was open to all community members. Our event was 100% focused on the ballot initiatives to amend any Governor’s Emergency Powers, all funds raised at the event were to create awareness about the ballot initiatives, they were not going to a specific political candidate. Representative White did not attend or speak at the event in West Chester.”
Stacy Stone also spoke at the rally and is the mother of a transgender child.
“Make no mistake, these bills are not about protecting anyone,” Stone said. “They are a wedge designed to divide.”
State Rep. Danielle Friel Otten, D-155th, of Uwchlan acknowledged that the original catalyst for the rally had canceled.
“When you lift up your voices and when we organize and you show your power, we win,” Friel Otten said. “We need to help people to better understand why we need a more inclusive community…to protest something that is wrong.”
State Sen. Carolyn Comitta, D-19, West Chester said the “attack” on transgender youth is horrible.
“People pushing this bill are so yesterday, we are about today and tomorrow,” Comitta said.
Carrie Stare is a member of LBGTQ Equality Alliance of Chester County.
“We need our love, our acceptance and we want to educate each other,” Stare said.
Lilia Weber is a trans woman.
“This bill is complete discrimination—looking for a problem, there isn’t a problem,” Weber said.
State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-181st, of Philadelphia said the LBGTQ community respects children.
The LBGTQ knows that kids matter, are seen and are loved, he said.
“These can’t just be words in a Social Studies class, they have to be real,” Kenyatta said. “The sky is the limit, the sky is the floor.”