Words and Images courtesy of Amber Bowmer.
On Monday, August 9, at 5 p.m., a rally to support trans students in Chesapeake Public Schools will be held at the Chesapeake Public Schools Administrative Building located at 312 Cedar Road, Chesapeake, VA 23322. The rally is being held by Blaizen Buckshot Bloom, Melanie Corneliesse for HD 78, and Amanda Lambert.
In response to the delayed vote on July 28 from the CPS School Board on adopting policies from HB 145 and SB 161, which require the Virginia Department of Education to create model policies for transgender student treatment, where the School Board stated they needed to “postpone for further investigation on policy and law” and a minority of transphobic individuals pushing the School Board to refuse to implement the State mandated protections for trans students, this rally was spearheaded by Mx. Bloom. This rally is to show the LGBTQ+ community, and especially trans students support and to condemn the oppositions’ transphobia and voice support for the new State mandated protections for trans students.
“Our transgender students need to feel loved for who they are. We in the community don’t get to choose our gender, it’s simply how we are.” said Blaizen Bloom, a School Board Candidate for the Green Party, further adding, “The hate we saw spewed at our last Board meeting is disgusting and is the reason why we as a community must show up and support our trans youth.”
After the rally, those in attendance are encouraged to sign-up to speak in support of trans students at the School Board meeting that follows inside the School Administration Building.
In attendance as guest speakers, supporters, and vendors of the rally will be Free Mom Hugs, LGBTQIA+Democrats, Planned Parenthood, Side by Side, Tidewater DSA, Hampton Roads Green Party, Tidewater People’s Party, Southeastern Virginia Atheists, Skeptics, and Humanists (SEVASH), Chesapeake School Safety Coalition, and Chesapeake Advocates for Responsible Return to School.