Madeleine Behr

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

APPLETON - Nearly 300 people gathered in Houdini Plaza to advocate for transgender rights on Saturday afternoon with a simple message: Accept transgender people for who they are.

"I'm just your average high school guy," Connor Tenor, a 16-year-old organizer of the rally from Kimberly, told the crowd. Tenor started the event after President Donald Trump's revocation of a Department of Education guideline created under the Obama Administration to allow transgender students to use the bathroom of their choice.

Saturday's rally was the fourth event in the Fox Cities advocating for progressive policy since the election of Trump. One was held in favor of the Affordable Care Act, another was to show support for immigrants and refugees, and the third marched for women's rights on International Women's Day.

Tenor said he was blown away by the crowd at Houdini Plaza, and hoped people would take notice and stand with transgender people as allies.

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During the rally, attendees carried signs of affirmation for transgender people like, "Trans rights are human rights," and "Trans is beautiful." After a speaker would finish, some attendees would shout "We accept you!" as they crossed the stage. Many of the attendees were local high school students from Kimberly, Neenah and Appleton, who spoke about which bathroom they chose or were instructed to use at school since they are transgender. Some students like Tenor wore transgender pride flags, with pink, blue and white stripes; around their shoulders.

Others spoke about struggling with family members who couldn't accept them. Some told stories about finding themselves in situations with gender-prescribed outfits, like wearing a bridesmaid gown at a sibling's wedding when they identified as male, or having to wear a gender-assigned graduation gown in high school.

Miles Medina, a transgender man from Appleton, attended the rally with his brother Hector. Since Medina transitioned from female to male about four years ago, having family support has made the difference.

"My brother doesn't care," Medina said of Hector. "I'm just one of the guys, we skateboard, we play video games. We're just living life."

Alderman Vered Meltzer said he was thrilled to see an event like this happening in Appleton. Meltzer was the first transgender alderman in the city's history and the first openly transgender elected official in Wisconsin when he was elected in 2014.

"There was a time in my life when I did not think coming out as trans was even an option, so it's amazing to see how far we've come," Meltzer said. "When I was a trans youth, I certainly never foresaw an event like this happening in my lifetime."

In 2013, Appleton enacted an ordinance to prohibit housing discrimination against gender identity and sexual orientation. Property owners or landlords who reject applicants based on their gender identity or sexual orientation could be fined up to $10,000.

Although Appleton has made progress, there's still plenty of work to be done, Meltzer said.

"I know who I am, I've always known who I am and I look forward to the day when society can focus on other things than how to accept each other for who they are," he added.

Madeleine Behr: 920-996-7226, or mbehr@postcrescent.com; on Twittter @madeleinebehr