"We are not dangerous, we are in danger": 10 years since the march "Stop transvesticide, transfemicide and transhomicide"

The tenth Plurinational Anti-Racist March, "Stop Transvesticide, Transfemicide, and Transhomicide," brought together transvestite, trans, and non-binary activists on International Pride Day. In addition to demanding an end to violence, the march called for comprehensive reparations for all forms of violence and for remembrance. It also reminded the Milei government: "We are not dangerous, we are in danger.".

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BUENOS AIRES, Argentina. ThePlurinational Anti-Racist March "Stop Transvesticide, Transfemicide, and Transhomicide" celebrated its 10th anniversary and called for a gathering in Plaza de Mayo on International Pride Day to demand full reparations for all abuses and to remember the murdered, persecuted, and imprisoned trans women. This mobilization, which is replicated in various cities across the country, is distinct from LGBT, which in Argentina take place in November. Since 2016, transvestite and trans collectives—organized by a committee comprised of representatives from diverse groups—have commemorated this day with a call to end violence and with the intention of decolonizing the commemoration. 

Yesterday in Plaza de Mayo, trans, transvestite, and non-binary activists marched in a circle around the Pyramid, recalling the path taken by the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo who, since 1977, have used this method of protest to demand answers about their disappeared children. They carried a large black banner that read in white letters: Plurinational Anti-Racist March: Stop the Transvesticide, Transfemicide, and Transhomicide.

 In addition to invoking the names of all the activists who are no longer with us—Lohana Berkins, Pía Baudracco, Diana Sacayán, among others—the name of Sofía Fernández, murdered in a police station in Pilar, also resonated in the voices and was repeated on the signs with her photo and the demand for justice. Two weeks ago, the trial against the ten police officers involved was finally confirmed; they had almost gone unpunished for the transphobic murder committed on April 8, 2023. 

HDR

Mabel Valdez, Sofía's sister, was there, along with the Justice for Sofía Commission, which includes trans activists such as Quimey Ramos and Mónica Aguirre. “The fact that the police officers are going to trial is thanks to the mobilization and struggle waged by the family and the Justice for Sofía Fernández Commission, raising awareness throughout the country. Thanks to this, the judge reversed the dismissal of charges against the 10 police officers who murdered her. We are here to continue fighting. We want them to receive an exemplary sentence and to pay for the harm they have caused the family by taking Sofía Fernández's life,” Mónica Aguirre, a trans leader from Libre Diversidad, told us. 

Throughout the day, on the stage set up a few meters from the Cabildo, there were moments of music, with Kumbia Queer and other bands, dances and sounds of diverse folklore, and speeches and demands from activist groups. The flags of the various organizations were spread across the plaza floor, uniting their struggles in a large mosaic. 

Micaela Josefina Pérez, from the Historical Movement, held up the group's flag along with the demand for Comprehensive Reparations Now. “I am here because I am a survivor of the last dictatorship and also of democracy. I am 62 years old, and this International Pride Day finds us uniting our struggles in the 10th march, and saying Enough with transvesticide, transfemicide, and transhomicide.”. 

Athenis is from the new generation and came from La Plata with the bigender flag—light blue, purple, white, yellow, pink, and light blue—made by her seamstress mother, and a sign: “My colors are pink, light blue, and white, like our community. Strong and resilient. They won't censor us or erase us with black and white.” “I identify as a bigender person. I came to commemorate because I feel it's important that we're gathered here also to demand rights and because of how trans people are being treated and killed,” she told us. 

Orgullo Disca set up a beautiful graphic table all afternoon. “Orgullo Disca is an organization of people with disabilities and their allies,” explained Mariana Béliz, standing next to the stand with a rainbow flag adorned with the image of a person in a wheelchair and a burning torch: “Everything that prevents us from being ourselves will burn.” There, they were calling for a Historical Reparations Law and food donations for a community kitchen in the Once neighborhood. 

Historical reparation

On stage, the organizing committee emphasized the unity that this year's "Stop Transvesticide, Transfemicide, and Transhomocide" movement promotes. "We are here to demand historical reparations for all the abuses and violence perpetrated against us by democratic governments and the military dictatorship," said Marcela Romero of the Lactrans Network. The activist and survivor also remembered her fallen comrades. "For all those who were murdered, persecuted. For those who died in prison and those who remain. For all of them and for us, we are here in Plaza de Mayo, our plaza. Where we also demanded justice for the disappeared, and where trans people come to demand our rights. We're going for everything, comrades, we're going for more. Let's continue this demand and this struggle together. Because we will continue to tell this government: We are not dangerous, we are in danger.". 

Layoffs, austerity measures, and increased violence were at the heart of this tenth march, which, incidentally, coincided with the World Cup. Yesterday, there were Argentine national team jerseys, like those worn by Cristian and Lucas, married for eight years. They wore Messi's number 10 on the back and the slogan "Free Cristina" on the front. They live at 1111 San José Street, where former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner has been imprisoned for over a year in a case involving alleged irregularities. "We're here supporting the trans community. With the resurgence of the global right wing, we need to be more united than ever. And today we're wearing World Cup gear because one thing doesn't negate the other. We're from a generation where the World Cup was part of our cultural upbringing. We also see that many people use the World Cup to raise awareness of their issues. We're using it to say 'Free Cristina,'" Cristian told us, as he and his husband waved Argentine flags.  

Giovi Novello, a trans children's rights activist and artist, was carrying a large trans flag representing trans men and non-binary people in Santa Fe/Buenos Aires. “Trans and transvestite lives matter less and less. We know we're always the last thing on the agenda, and this government has managed to create a first impression of the trans community for many people who weren't even part of our community, based on a string of lies that have conditioned us to once again have to endure certain forms of violence when we leave our homes,” he says, referring to the climate of increased violence and hate speech that has prevailed since Javier Milei's government took office. “These were fears we had overcome. We need to strengthen this community more than ever to be able to move forward.”. 

COVERAGE: Agustina Ramos, Lucas Fauno Gutiérrez and María Eugenia Ludueña.

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