California cities proclaim August 'Transgender History Month'

SANTA CLARA, CALIF. (TND) — The city council in Santa Clara, California proclaimed August "Transgender History Month" on Tuesday.

"Transgender History Month honors the 56th anniversary of the Compton's Cafeteria Riots, which occurred in August 1966 in San Francisco, marking the beginning of transgender activism as one of the first LGBTQ uprisings in United States history," a news release from the city reads.

Sera Fernando, manager for the County of Santa Clara Office of LGBTQ Affairs, was on hand to accept the proclamation during Tuesday's city council meeting.

"The City of Santa Clara joins the efforts to support, acknowledge and advocate for the Transgender community," the proclamation stated. "The City of Santa Clara continues to promote the rights and support the ongoing efforts of LGBTQIA+ and transgender people to eliminate discrimination and violence faced by all individuals; and shed more visibility on transgender advocacy from the past, present, and future ... The City of Santa Clara affirms our commitment to stand with transgender individuals who continue to face discrimination, harassment, and barriers to opportunity, and ... honor transgender individuals and leaders who are continuing the fight for human rights for freedom, equality, dignity, and respect."

The City of San Francisco, where the infamous "Cafeteria Riot" took place, became the first city in the U.S. to celebrate "Transgender History Month" after Mayor London Breed declared it last year.

The City of Santa Clara's proclamation was initially proposed by Councilmember Anthony Becker, "in solidarity with the City of San Francisco’s effort to do the same," The National Desk (TND) was told by a city spokesperson.

San Francisco is also home to the nation's first legally recognized district dedicated to transgenderism.

"To know your history is to know yourself,"said Aria Sai'd, co-founder and president of The Transgender District, according to a news release kicking off this year's trans history month in San Francisco. "It is time to acknowledge that trans history is universal history - in which transgender figures, activism, and political thought have propelled our society forward by centering civil liberties and social justice for a more equitable world."