Protesters gathered at rallies across northern San Diego County on Saturday in opposition to the Trump istration’s policies that target the LGBTQ+ community and roll back key protections for the group.
“Every human should have dignity, and they should all be respected,” said Karen Pohl, a Navy veteran who lives in San Diego and attended a rally held outside the Oceanside Civic Center.
The event was one of six demonstrations at locations across North County. The rallies were held on the International Day Against Transphobia, Homophobia and Biphobia — a global day of action against LGBTQ+ discrimination — though attendees also expressed fear for the Trump istration’s policies targeting immigrants.
Transgender people and immigrants “are number one and two targets of this istration,” Pohl said.
Rally attendees held handmade signs with phrases like “protect trans kids” and “trans rights are human rights,” as they chanted that “love, not hate, makes America great.”
Saturday’s rallies were part of demonstrations organized by local activists held every other weekend. The events are sometimes focused on a specific cause, such as immigrants’ rights or LGBTQ+ protections, or are aimed at mobilizing against the Trump istration’s actions more generally.
“This is not just about ‘I don’t like this president because he doesn’t express my opinion,’” said Max Disposti, the executive director of the North County LGBTQ Resource Center, on Friday before the rally. “This is about presidents violating the basis of democracy… the deportation without due process, the unprecedented attack against the LGBT community.”
Starting on his first day in office in January, President Donald Trump has signed numerous executive orders that have aimed to limit or eliminate protections for the LGBTQ+ community.
Last week, the Supreme Court ruled that Trump could begin enforcing his istration’s policy that bans trans people from the military and forces out those who are already serving.
“Adoption of a gender identity inconsistent with an individual’s sex conflicts with a soldier’s commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle, even in one’s personal life,” reads the order.
And in March, Trump issued an executive order that barred trans veterans from receiving gender-affirming care through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Oceanside resident Irma Robinson has a nonbinary child, and said that her child has felt threatened since Trump was elected last November, pointing to his rhetoric and campaign promises that targeted the trans and nonbinary community.
“That was just a blow to all of us, but more so to the LGBTQ community,” Robinson said. “Our kids are definitely on edge.”
And while many thought that California would be a safe haven, some are now questioning that.
On Friday, the North County LGBTQ Resource Center was notified that it would lose a roughly $500,000 state grant from the California Department of Health.
The governor’s proposed $322 billion budget would also reduce funding for Planned Parenthood — funding for which is also currently on the chopping block in the federal spending bill currently being negotiated in Congress.
“We’re hanging on to hope that the state of California will protect what Trump is taking away,” Disposti said. “I understand we are in a deficit, but also it’s always the same story — the first thing that gets cut are services to people that can’t afford health care and any other resources.”
Many rally attendees said their concerns about the Trump istration go beyond just one action.
They’re worried about immigrants, reproductive health and the LGBTQ+ community — along with federal funding cuts and the spending bill, Trump’s foreign policy and efforts from the istration to persuade women to have children.
To Ethan Gering at the Civic Center rally, it’s growing increasingly clear that the federal government’s actions aren’t just impacting one group.
“I think it’s reached a point where everybody has skin in the game,” Gering said.
