San Mateo County celebrates trans visibility

“For everyone that is a part of this community, we see you, we are here with you, and we are committed to celebrating your beauty, your love, our pride and your joy,” Corzo, the new liaison to the county’s LGBTQIA+ Commission, said.  

In recognition of transgender rights under attack from the presidential administration and throughout the country, Corzo noted that San Mateo County has remained at the forefront of supporting its queer community. Former Supervisor Dave Pine created the LGBTQIA+ Commission in 2015, then called the LGBTQ Commission, as the first regional group committed to queer rights and advocacy at a local level. 

“San Mateo County does lead the way, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t have more work to do,” Corzo said. “I want to thank the commission for their ongoing work in pushing us to be more welcoming, be more affirming, provide a safer community for ever LGBTQIA+ community member in our county.” 

Admitting that it feels more difficult to be outwardly visible as a trans person than in recent years, Ishani Dugar said the county has continued to demonstrate its support for individuals who are a part of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Dugar is the lead trainer and peer group coordinator at the San Mateo County Pride Center, self declaring as “both personally and professionally queer” and spoke at the Wednesday ceremony to their own experience and the importance of visibility. 

“Being authentically me, means being visibly trans and queer,” Dugar said. 

It wasn’t until attending college that Dugar had exposure to welcoming and joyful trans representation, which was either nonexistent or limited previously. 

“The occasional mentions were always framing this community as small, other, odd, off on their own crusades,” Dugar said. “A community that was around but not one that many folks were a part of, because their lives were hard and confusing and just not that visible to those around them.” 

After finding a space that acknowledged and celebrated the trans community, “that transition into visibility — pun intended — saved my life,” Dugar said. 

San Mateo County’s effort to encourage trans folks to live authentically also extends to cisgender people who can work to be upstanding allies, Dugar said. At the Pride Center, events and workshops look to connect the community and its allies. 

On Thursday, March 27, an informational training “Trans 101 Workshop” will be held online from 6-8 p.m. On Friday, March 28, a mixer for families of trans kids are welcome to make connections and share experiences, from 6-7:30 p.m. More events can be found by visiting www.sanmateopride.org/events. 

For those who ask what they can do to support the trans people in their lives, Dugar said to practice being as loud of an advocate as you can, each day, and that no action is too small. 

“Wear flags or raise them if you have them, share your pronouns with folks, correct assumptions about identity that people will hold, push back on folks who assume that others in their space will be comfortable with transphobic language, or with assuming that trans people are not present,” Dugar said. 

In November, the county also celebrates International Transgender Day of Remembrance with a flag raising, honoring the transgender lives lost to hate crimes or acts of violence. While the celebration in November has a much more somber tone, celebrating visibility is focused on life, joy and community, Corzo said. 

“In Spanish, we have a phrase, ‘Dame mis flores me trata estoy aquí, give me my flowers while I’m still here,’ and I think that is really important and that’s why today is so special,” Corzo said. “This is about what you can do for people that are here right now, that need us to be upstanders.” 

At the board meeting March 25, supervisors passed a resolution declaring March 31 Transgender Day of Visibility. 

The county’s flag pole stands on the corner of Veterans Boulevard and Middlefield Road, but attendees of the ceremonial flag raising event at County Center waved their own individual pride flags, a flurry of light blue, pink and white. 

“We will continue to work toward love, visibility and acceptance. We have always been deserving of this, and while some may want our community and history silenced, we, our allies and our advocates will not be invisible,” Dugar said.