Politics

AP PHOTOS: Under the new Trump administration, Transgender Day of Visibility has a different tone

With the U.S Capitol seen between them, people sit by signs saying "protect trans kids," and "you can't legislate away trans" as they attend a rally for the Trans Day of Visibility, on the National Mall, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

With the U.S Capitol seen between them, people sit by signs saying “protect trans kids,” and “you can’t legislate away trans” as they attend a rally for the Trans Day of Visibility, on the National Mall, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
By  JACQUELYN MARTIN
 
Share

WASHINGTON (AP) — Supporters of transgender rights gathered on the National Mall on Monday to rally for equality on Transgender Day of Visibility, following a wave of policies signed by President Donald Trump aimed at erasing transgender people from government records, sports and even history.

Ira, who is 13, attends their first Trans Day of Visibility, on the National Mall, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Washington. "I felt a little like everything was falling apart," says Ira, "and I wanted to see if there were adults around who knew we were still here and still cared." (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Ira, who is 13, attends their first Trans Day of Visibility on the National Mall, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
“I felt a little like everything was falling apart, and I wanted to see if there were adults around who knew we were still here and still cared.”
Ira
Lily Travis, 18, and Noah Masom, 17, both of northern Virginia, hug while attending a rally in support of people who are transgender during the Trans Day of Visibility, on the National Mall, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Washington. "I'm not the biggest protester, but I wanted to show my friends that their struggles are important," says Masom, "they need to know that people are on their side." (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Lily Travis, 18, and Noah Masom, 17, both of northern Virginia, hug while attending a rally in support of people who are transgender during the Trans Day of Visibility, on the National Mall, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
“I’m not the biggest protester, but I wanted to show my friends that their struggles are important, they need to know that people are on their side.”
Noah Masom
Actress Lena Dunham speaks during a rally for the Trans Day of Visibility, on the National Mall, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Actress Lena Dunham speaks during a rally for the Trans Day of Visibility, on the National Mall, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., speaks during a rally for the Trans Day of Visibility, on the National Mall, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., speaks during a rally for the Trans Day of Visibility, on the National Mall, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
People attend a rally for the Trans Day of Visibility, on the National Mall, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

People attend a rally for the Trans Day of Visibility, on the National Mall, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
With the Capitol in the background, Kali wears a trans equality flag in her hair while attending a rally for the Trans Day of Visibility, on the National Mall, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Washington."I'm here because I'm trans and it's a day to be visible," she said, "our rights, everyone's rights, are under attack." (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

With the Capitol in the background, Kali wears a trans equality flag in her hair while attending a rally for the Trans Day of Visibility, on the National Mall, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
“I’m here because I’m trans and it’s a day to be visible, our rights, everyone’s rights, are under attack.”
Kali
Elizabeth Fogarty, left, and Laura Tinter, both of Arlington, Va., attend a rally for the Trans Day of Visibility, on the National Mall, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Washington. "I have a trans loved one," says Tinter, "so I'm here for her." (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Elizabeth Fogarty, left, and Laura Tinter, both of Arlington, Va., attend a rally for the Trans Day of Visibility on the National Mall, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
“I have a trans loved one, so I’m here for her.”
Laura Tinter
Aurora La'Rosa, 25, of Washington, and her girlfriend attend a rally for the Trans Day of Visibility, on the National Mall, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Washington. "It's important for us all to gather together in this political ecosystem," says La'Rosa, "to show that we aren't invisible, we are here, our allies are here, and we aren't able to be erased." (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Aurora La’Rosa, 25, of Washington, and her girlfriend attend a rally for the Trans Day of Visibility, on the National Mall, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
“It’s important for us all to gather together in this political ecosystem, to show that we aren’t invisible, we are here, our allies are here, and we aren’t able to be erased.”
Aurora La’Rosa
Runa Morgen, from upstate New York holds a sign saying "leave us alone," during a rally for the Trans Day of Visibility, on the National Mall, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Washington. "What's going on is scary," says Morgan, "there's an obvious pattern and I see where this is going." (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Runa Morgen, from upstate New York holds a sign saying “leave us alone,” during a rally for the Trans Day of Visibility, on the National Mall, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
“What’s going on is scary, there’s an obvious pattern and I see where this is going.”
Runa Morgen
A "progress pride" flag tucked into a baseball cap appears like a rainbow by the U.S. Capitol dome, during a rally for the Trans Day of Visibility, on the National Mall, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

A “progress pride” flag tucked into a baseball cap appears like a rainbow by the U.S. Capitol dome, during a rally for the Trans Day of Visibility, on the National Mall, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
RELATED STORIES
Gene Sorensen holds up a transgender flag in front of the Nebraska state Capitol during a Transgender Day of Visibility rally, March 31, 2023, in Lincoln, Neb. (Larry Robinson/Lincoln Journal Star via AP, file)
Trump has focused on curtailing rights of transgender people, not the kind of visibility they seek
 
California Gov. Gavin Newsom holds a fireside chat with Stephen Cheung, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) and its subsidiary, the World Trade Center Los Angeles (WTCLA) at the 2025 Economic Forecast and Industry Outlook convening on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at the East LA College in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
California’s Gavin Newsom opposes trans athletes in women’s sports, splitting with progressives
 
Megan Brown and other protesters fill the Iowa state Capitol to denounce a bill that would strip the state civil rights code of protections based on gender identity, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Iowa gives final approval to a bill removing gender identity protections despite protests
 
JACQUELYN MARTIN
Martin photographs politics at the White House and Congress and has circumnavigated the globe as a pool photographer covering every Secretary of State since 2010. She is known for her multidisciplinary enterprise feature packages and is fluent in Spanish.