For the primary time in its historical past, the San Antonio Metropolis Council on Tuesday issued a proclamation recognizing Trans Historical past Week, Might 4-10.
“This proper right here is why I really like San Antonio, as a result of I might at all times say it loud, San Antonio has no house for hate,” mentioned Rain Garcia, who leads Unfiltered Wings, an advocacy group for transgender and non-binary folks in the neighborhood.
District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, the primary overtly homosexual, Black man elected to the council, launched the proclamation.
It learn partly, “whereas acknowledging these usually missed or erased histories as important to counter misinformation and be certain that the tradition, information and expertise of trans ancestors are preserved and shared as a supply of well-being and a toolkit for liberation as we speak …”
Trans Historical past Week is a world occasion led by a Trans-led nonprofit as a weeklong reflective interval to be taught and have fun the historical past of transgender, non-binary, gender-diverse and intersex folks.
The timing coincides with Trans+ Historical past Day on Might 6, which is the anniversary of the 1933 Nazi raid on the world’s first trans clinic in Berlin.
‘Right here I’m’
A spokesperson from the advocacy group Equality Texas, Naveen Farrani, issued an announcement saying, “At a second when each our state and nation are systematically making an attempt to push trans folks out of public life, erase our tales, and outright deny our existence, this proclamation recognizing Trans Historical past Week is a beacon to trans folks in San Antonio and throughout Texas.”
On the assembly, Sofia Sepulveda, group engagement advocacy director for Equality Texas, detailed a historical past that dates from historic occasions to fashionable, with the biggest recorded LGBTQ+ advocacy day in Texas historical past held in March 2025.
“We trans folks will live on and create and make historical past in Texas even when folks don’t need us to thrive,” she mentioned. “I don’t assume I may have carried out what I did had I not been allowed to transition.
“I’ve been who I’m since I used to be 4 years outdated. Regardless of my mother and father ire and reprimands, regardless of their beatings and regardless of state oppression, right here I’m.”
Additionally readily available for the proclamation was San Antonio’s first transgender council member (2025), Leo Castillo-Anguiano, who works for Thrive Youth Middle, a shelter for homeless LGBTQ+ youth.
The decree “tells each younger trans particular person in San Antonio that you’re not alone, that you simply belong right here, your historical past issues, and your future does, too,” Castillo-Anguiano mentioned. “I dream of a metropolis the place each trans youth can develop up feeling supported, revered and free to be their full genuine selves.”
District 6 Councilman Ric Galvan mentioned the problem was private for him, with household and associates who’re transgender, “who’ve helped form me to be the particular person I’m.”
“I at all times need to make it possible for we’re standing agency with them, in addition to all people in our group who’s exploring, studying and making an attempt their finest to be their finest selves and really feel secure in our metropolis,” Galvan mentioned.
Final 12 months, greater than 100 payments had been geared toward LGBTQ+ folks in Texas. Ten had been authorized by state lawmakers, together with establishing and broadly making use of state definitions for female and male and banning faculties from educating about sexual orientation or gender id.
On the nationwide stage, there’s a renewed worry that marriage equality may as soon as once more be in danger.
“Trans historical past is civil rights historical past,” mentioned Councilwoman Teri Castillo (D5), supporting the proclamation together with Councilwomen Sukh Kaur (D1) and Marina Alderete Gavito (D7), who mentioned she is able to be a part of the March of Us occasion in 2027.
Rainbow sidewalks
Councilwoman Phyllis Viagran (D3) received emotional whereas talking. “It provides me hope that we as a nation are going to be OK if we proceed to work collectively.”
Castillo, Kaur and Viagran have signed on to a coverage proposal submitted in April by McKee-Rodriguez that seeks to make sure entry to public restrooms, defend private public well being data, encourage single-user restrooms and affirm the accuracy of non-public identification.
Councilman Edward Mungia (D4) mentioned he’s proud to have additionally added his signature to the council consideration request titled, “Wanting Out for Weak Impacted Neighbors” (LOVIN).
“Y’all are usually not simply present — you guys are thriving,” Mungia mentioned. “You’re doing wonderful work in our group, not simply to your personal group, however for all the metropolis of San Antonio.”
Council members Marc Whyte (D10) and Misty Spears (D9) weren’t current on the dais for the proclamation, although Spears later returned.
In January, each officers criticized the town’s determination to put in rainbow-colored sidewalks in San Antonio’s Satisfaction Cultural Heritage District. The transfer was a response to rainbow crosswalks being eliminated in compliance with Gov. Greg Abbott’s order to get rid of political ideologies from streets.
Whyte and Spears argued the sidewalk venture was a misuse of public funds.
Michael Rendon is chairman of the town’s LGBTQ+ Advisory Board, which deliberate a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the sidewalks.
“I believe the rainbow sidewalks actually have gotten folks excited and activated [asking] what else can we do with this strip, and the way can we actually make the group there thrive?” Rendon mentioned.
As a member of the native board of governors of Human Rights Marketing campaign, Rendon was comfortable to listen to concerning the Trans Historical past Week proclamation.
The nonprofit’s posts to social media in help for transgender folks usually elicits hateful feedback, he mentioned. “It simply form of blows my thoughts typically that in 2026 folks discover they’ve the necessity simply to make a remark or say what’s on their thoughts, when actually they … in all probability don’t even know any person that’s trans.”
June is formally acknowledged as Satisfaction Month. Rendon is planning for the board to help a brand new occasion this 12 months, Black Satisfaction, June 8-14, and to take part within the metropolis’s Satisfaction River Parade on Might 30.
‘Respect and kindness and love’
“I hope you’re feeling the overwhelming love and help that you’ve got up right here,” mentioned McKee-Rodriguez, addressing the half-dozen residents who spoke in help of the proclamation at Metropolis Corridor final week.
The councilman and mayor pro-tem learn the proclamation on behalf of Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones, the town’s first lesbian mayor, who was touring on mayoral enterprise however had issued the decree.
McKee-Rodriguez referenced his time as a instructor to 6 college students who had been transgender or gender nonconforming and who had both tried suicide or tried to run away from house.
“On the finish of the day, we’re folks, [and] the best way that we discuss one another, issues, and it’s pushing folks to make life-ending selections,” he mentioned. “So all of us have an obligation to deal with one another with respect and kindness and love.”
