MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – On Friday, OUTMemphis partnered with other local advocacy groups for the inaugural Southern Trans Celebration, where they discussed their concerns with the National Guard coming to the city with Mayor Paul Young.

An advocacy event was held outside Memphis City Hall on Friday afternoon for Trans Advocacy Day, where OUTMemphis, My Sistah’s House, and WeCareTN partnered together to celebrate trans resiliency and visibility as they work to establish policy changes to protect transgender Memphians.

“We’re asking and calling on our elected officials to make a stance, to come out in support of us publicly,” says Kayla Gore, the founder of My Sistah’s House. “So that we are clear here in Memphis that this is not Tennessee, and that the things that are coming from the federal and state level don’t necessarily affect the people who are here.”

Gore says she, Jasmine Tasaki with WeCareTN, and TaMesha Prewitt with OUTMemphis met with Mayor Young to discuss how the President Trump-established Memphis Safe Task Force will affect marginalized communities.

“I think one of my main concerns was what does safety look like,” says Tasaki. “Because so many times as Black transgender women and transgender people, we are often policed.”

The advocates who met with Mayor Young say the conversation was affirming regarding National Guard deployment.

“He assured us that the National Guard is here to support, to be eyes and ears of sorts, and not necessarily to police people,” says Tasaki.

“What we heard from our mayor is that he’s gonna do everything in his power to make sure the City of Memphis is still a safe place for people to commune, go to work, and for people to access services,” says Gore.

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