Transgender Unity March
Now What?
Thank you for supporting the Santa Barbara Transgender Unity March! We hope that you had an inspiring experience at the rally. You may be asking yourself, what difference will this make and what can I do now?
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What You Have Done
By attending the march, you have made it known that you care about the rights and dignity of the transgender community. We remind the world that transgender people exist, that they will stand up for themselves, and that they are supported by allies in the community.
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You've also helped introduce a new policy to our elected officials while demonstrating that the issues it addresses matter to their constituents. The proposed Community Autonomy, Rights, and Quality (CARE) Policy will further protect transgender people, immigrants, and reproductive healthcare.
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What Can You Do Now?
Given the challenges and threats facing our country today, many of us seem to be looking for actions we can take to make a difference. Attending rallies like this one are one way to do that. We encourage you to continue to find opportunities to make your voice heard - at other marches, town halls, city council meetings, by calling your elected officials, joining local groups, participating in boycotts - whatever you are able to do. We urge you to remember that protecting each other and safeguarding our rights is not a one-time event. It requires our continuing efforts and presence.
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How about some specifics?
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You can help protect vulnerable groups in your community by reaching out to your city counselor and asking them to support the CARE Policy, and by speaking for it when it comes before them for a vote at an upcoming meeting.
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If you're a transgender adult or a parent of a transgender child, you can participate in SBTAN's peer groups to help strengthen our community. If you need that community and support, then we are here for you. If you don't need it, you can help provide it for others that do. We are all stronger together. Trans adults click here to register for Lisa's Place. Parents of trans children click here to learn more.
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Attend SBTAN's Transgender Day of Visibility event on Saturday, April 5th. It's a chance to support and celebrate the trans people in our community as we enjoy many of their artistic contributions with food, music, art, and more. Look for more details on our website soon.
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Reach out to work with or support one of the organizations that helped make this event happen and do amazing work in our community. We've included information and links below where you can learn more about them. Check their calendars to find more events and protests you can attend. ​
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Keep Going!
There's more to do. We need your help and your presence. Thank you for your support.
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Special Thanks
SBTAN would like to thank everyone that worked so hard to put this event together.
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World Dance for Humanity
The opening music and dancing was guided by World Dance for Humanity. This group bridges cultures through movement and helps people in need by supporting small, sustainable, grassroots projects locally and in the developing world, and by providing immediate aid in response to disasters. Learn more by visiting their website or support them by donating.
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Our Speakers
We are indebted to those that volunteered to share their stories, leadership, and wisdom.
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Laura Capps
Chair of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors
Kristen Sneddon
Santa Barbara City Councilor
Amber Thompson
Trans Activist
Kristin Flickinger
LGBTQ+ Community Organizer
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Deja Hartley
Pacific Pride Foundation
Stephanie Wade
Trans Veterans Activist
Sean Baker
New Beginnings Center, Camarillo
Lyiam Galo
United Way
Lal Zimman
Associate Professor of Linguistics at UCSB
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Pacific Pride Foundation works to ensure a healthy, visible and vibrant LGBTQ+ community in Santa Barbara County.
PFLAG provides peer-to-peer support, publications, toolkits, and other resources to make sure that the family members of people who are LGBTQ get the support they need in the way that best serves their needs. This allows families to then further support, affirm, and advocate on behalf of their LGBTQ loved ones.
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PFLAG Santa Barbara's next virtual meeting is on Monday, March 17th at 7 pm. The topic is 'Gender Affirming Health Care: Highlights and Misconceptions--Where Are We Now?' with invited guest Dr. Michael Snavely, Planned Parenthood South Coast. Click here to register.
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For additional support between meetings, reach out with the social links above or call the support line at 805-364-2830. Leave a message and someone will return your call.
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Other links:​
YouthWell's prevention and early intervention programs focus on mental health and wellness education, outreach, and improving access to coordinated care in order to connect youth through age 25 and their families to mental health and wellness resources before the crisis in Santa Barbara County.
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For resources from YouthWell, click here.
To volunteer or get on the Women's March Santa Barbara mailing list and learn of upcoming actions, email womenmarchingsb@gmail.com
To donate, find the Women's March Santa Barbara on Venmo.
Indivisible Santa Barbara is a grassroots organization of friends and neighbors living in and around Santa Barbara, and is part of the nationwide Indivisible movement. Priorities include advancing national democratic reforms, improving health care access, addressing global climate change, opposing racial injustice, promoting socio-economic equality, protecting our environment, supporting immigration reform and rebuilding our deteriorating infrastructure.
Planned Parenthood health centers in California — with supportive doctors, nurses, and expert staff — continue to provide the care and resources you've come to rely on. We believe all people — no matter where they live — should have the right to control their own body, life, and future. It is unjust and unacceptable that people in some states have been robbed of that right, forced to overcome unjust barriers just to access to the abortion care they need and deserve.