Advocates stage Bloomington rally to protest Trump’s military transgender ban

Posted on August 9, 2017
Stand Up for Justice rally
The group Stand Up for Social Justice stages rallies monthly outside the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts. (Photo courtesy WMBD-TV)

By Lindsey Harrison/WMBD-TV

BLOOMINGTON – Dozens of people gathered in the Twin Cities Tuesday evening to show their support for the LGBTQIA+ community.

The Stand Up For Social Justice group is speaking out against President Trump’s recent ban on transgender people in the military, as well as laws that do not protect people from discrimination based on sexual orientation. The group held signs and chanted to get their message across.

David Bentlin, a board member with the Gay Pride Coalition, says under the current administration. The LGBTQIA+ community is seeing a backtrack in equal rights

“We’re out here today, and other places too, to let people know that this country is for all of us and we have a voice and we want to be heard,” he said after the rally.

“After the marriage equality decision a couple of years ago, I think a lot of people assumed that we had all of the rights guaranteed by the Constitution that they also had. When in fact, there are only 20 states that offer protection against LGBTQIA discrimination in the workplace.” Bentlin explained.

Bentlin said it’s important to remind people that there is still a ways to go before full equality is achieved.

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