Melinda Butterfield links trans justice to global struggles

The Harriet Tubman Center for Social Justice in Los Angeles hosted national trans activist and leader Melinda Butterfield to mark International Women’s Day.

The whirlwind weekend began with the screening of “I Saw the TV Glow,” at the Harriet Tubman Center. The A24 film had an especially poignant impact among sectors of the trans community when it was released. “I Saw the TV Glow” (2024) is a psychological horror film that thoughtfully explores the transgender experience. 

Then on March 15, Melinda Butterfield spoke at a rally in Long Beach, organized by Queer & Forever Here, SoCal Uprising & 50501. 

“I’m here to talk to you about solidarity. As you know, trans people have been marked for extermination by this regime, and if they succeed, other LGBTQ siblings will be next. But we aren’t just part of the LGBTQIA community. We show up for the migrant community, we show up for Palestine. A few days ago in NYC I was in Federal Plaza, NYC, along with 10,000 other people — queer and straight — supporting Mahmoud Khalil, the Columbia University Palestinian student illegally being deported by the Trump regime.

“We are part of every community, we are Black, immigrants, we are union members, Amazon workers, baristas, sex workers. We walk through fire to be ourselves; that ferocity, that determination is something we will all need to survive what is coming. The word is solidarity, an injury to one is an injury to all!” Butterfield was interrupted multiple times by the hundreds at the rally with applause and shouts of Free Mahmoud!

On March 16, Melinda Butterfield participated in the Our Solidarity is Our Strength forum at the Harriet Tubman Center for Social Justice in Los Angeles.