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“I just cannot believe this is happening in 2017,” Mayor John Moor said in thanking the more than 250 people who turned out Saturday for the Garden State Equality and Women’s March Asbury Park Rally held in support of all transgender service members.

The event began in front of Paradise nightclub at Ocean and Asbury avenues with the crowd, led by Emily Grove, singing their rendition of the gospel anthem Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around.

“This is the most amazing community,” Women’s March Asbury Park organizer Dani Fiori said in opening the day’s event. “My phone started blowing up after that tweet,” she said referring to the president’s announcement that transgender men and women would no longer be accepted or allowed to serve  in any capacity in the U.S. Military.

There are an estimated 1,320 to 6,630 active duty transgender service members, according to a Rand Corporation study.

“I know you are angry, I’m angry too, I want everybody that is here today to try to come from a place of love,” Fiori said. “Because every person that is here is here because we love each other and we want to support each other.”

A march to Library Square Park where a memorial grove was planted in honor of the Pulse nightclub victims was preceded by Grove leading the group in Lady Gaga’s Born This Way and the National Anthem.

Over 1.8 thousand people viewed the live Garden State Equality Facebook feed, for which much of this report was garnered.

Garden State Equality Board member Luanne Peterpaul said this is all about politics.

“This is all about this the administration using those that are marginalized to get their way,” she said. “Guess what, we are not going to let them. Garden State Equality has a renewed reinvigorated vision. We are not going to stand still, we are not going to be silent.”

With that said Former Freeholder candidate Army Capt. Sue Fulton led a chant:

“When Transgender people are under attack what do we do,” she asked the crowd who responded “Stand up fight back.”

She asked the same of Gay people, Bi people, Muslim people, Women, Immigrants, Black Americans, Brown Americans, all Americans, Healthcare, our freedoms, and our rights – to the same response.

“We are united, we are one,” Fulton chanted. 

Tell me what America looks like, this is what America looks like,” the crowd chanted in unison.

Democratic Committee Chair and BOE member Joe Grillo said it was his duty to his daughter and the next generation as whole to be an example as giants who came before led civil rights movements, at time to their personal determinants.

“Two days ago we were having our coffee, and we were going to our office, to school, taking a bike ride, and we look at our phone and we are like – are we being punked – is this for real,” said Democratic Committee Chair and BOE member Joe Grillo. “All I did was send a text saying it’s time for a walk. And next thing you know in two days later we have hundreds of people here. We are standing on the shoulders of giants who came before us, it is my duty to make an example for the next generation.”

“If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything,” Councilwoman Yvonne Clayton said using the Alexander Hamilton quote to show a need for solidarity.

“As a trans person and a veteran, I got mad as hell,” said Army veteran Babs Siperstein of her reaction in first hearing the news report. Siperstein is the first openly transgender member of the DNC. “I think back to all work that so many people have done…and to to try in one little tweet or three tweets to try to make it all go away is just disgusting.”

Musician and Chiropractor Dr. Geena Buono who hosts the city’s annual Transgender Remembrance Day said it takes a lot of courage for a trans person to live their truth.

“I know that not everyone of us have had the opportunity to come and pop out of the box and end up on Vanity Fair,” Buono said. “Most of us are out on the street just fighting to survive we are doing the best we possibly can to just be ourselves.”

Asbury Park’s Black Lives Matter founding member Jennifer Lewinski said as a mother of a trans woman she dove head first into the safety issues that comes with being a trans person in our society.

“As much as I want to point the finger at the administration and other people, whenever you point one finger, three fingers point right back at you,” Lewinski said. “As a human, compassionate, person in the world, I have a call to action for every person. It’s easier to come to a rally than to rally around people in your everyday life.”  

Amanda Kane Women’s March Asbury Park organizer said it is up to the crowd to keep the day going.

“Always surround yourself by the best people the people who push you to be the best version of yourself.”

[Photos in part courtesy of Garden State Equality and Councilwoman Yvonne Clayton]

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