Photos: Ariel Gutraich. Fueled by the landmark ruling in the Diana Sacayán transvesticide case and a powerful turnout, the 3rd National March “Stop Transvesticide and Transfemicide” brought thousands of people out of their homes. Unlike previous mobilizations, where only transvestites and trans people and some members of the LGBTI community participated, this time the “green wave” feminism, with its contingent from the Campaign for Legal Abortion, was joined by Nora Cortiñas, a Mother of Plaza de Mayo, and Sergio Maldonado, brother of Santiago Maldonado.

[NOW] Plaza de Mayo 🇦🇷✊ The “Feminist Ethical Trial against Patriarchal Justice” has begun. @PibeTiger , “I’m tired and angry, and I’m telling the patriarchal institutions that they won’t keep stealing our future. Separation of Church and State now.” #StopTransMurders pic.twitter.com/ZsQtgTaj6s

— Presentes Agency (@PresentesLGBT) June 28, 2018

The presence of teenagers and political groups was notable, as was the participation of workers laid off from the Télam news agency. On International LGBTI+ Pride Day, the memory of those who are no longer with us, murdered or killed as a result of social neglect, was honored; the resurgence of violence against trans and gender-diverse people was denounced; and a list of demands to the State was read, which continues to fail to respond adequately despite having progressive legislation that is a model worldwide. The gathering took place in Plaza de Mayo at 5 p.m., where the rally and the “Trial of Patriarchal Justice” were held, a moment where various activists spoke about their struggles. These included Florencia Guimaraes—the driving force behind the march and a long-time trans activist—and Joe Lemonge, a 25-year-old trans man who was convicted two months ago in Entre Ríos for defending himself against his attackers. Also speaking there was journalist Carolina Balderrama, recently dismissed from Télam, who from the audiovisual area was in charge of making visible issues of gender and sexual diversity.

[NOW] Joe Lemonge says, "Today I want to talk about the deaths of trans and travesti people in silence and anonymity. My dream is that we all have justice and that we are all united." In Plaza de Mayo to say #StopTransMurders and #StopTransFemicides pic.twitter.com/acntyRdMiF

— Presentes Agency (@PresentesLGBT) June 28, 2018

[NOW] in Plaza de Mayo #StopTransMurders @Carobal, one of the 354 journalists laid off from @AgenciaTelam, speaks . She covered gender and diversity issues in the audiovisual department. "The dismantling of the media breaks down access to information and a human right." pic.twitter.com/BNFMKsXzTw

— Presentes Agency (@PresentesLGBT) June 28, 2018

“Just as Diana Sacayán left a legacy, we must prepare the ground for the free and trans children of the future,” trans activist Lara Bertolini told Presentes. Bertolini, along with singer Susy Shock, marched with the association Infancias Libres (Free Childhoods), founded by Gabriela Mansilla, mother of Luana, who in 2013 became the youngest child to legally change her ID. For Susy Shock, it is “essential that trans and travesti people reclaim their original date,” referring to the Stonewall riots in New York City on June 28, 1969, where trans women were the great—and forgotten—resistance fighters at the barricades. At the same time, at the intersection of Avenida de Mayo and Perú, other trans and travesti organizations decided to march separately, disagreeing with the abolitionist stance on prostitution held by many of the organizing groups. According to 2012 data from the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INDEC), 80% of trans and travesti people in Argentina are involved in prostitution, and 7 out of 10 want to change their line of work. Lack of access to employment is one of the community's strongest demands, and they have been advocating for trans employment quota laws for years. Before the march began, as night was falling, several leaders spoke, and then the group marched for an hour to reach the National Congress building, where Sasha Sacayán, an activist with MAL and brother of Diana, read the statement along with Alba Rueda of Mujeres Trans Argentina (Trans Women Argentina), Florencia Guimaraes, and Daniela Ruiz. ]]>