Kelly Lepley, a transgender activist, speaks during a diversity rally on the Cal State Fullerton Humanities Quad on Wednesday, April 12, 2017 in Fullerton. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Jennifer Thompson, a transgender adjunct professor at Cal State Fullerton, speaks during the diversity rally she organized on the university’s Humanities Quad on Wednesday, April 12, 2017 in Fullerton. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

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Jocelyn Nickle, a transgender activist with Trans Inclusive Moderate Empathy Movement, speaks during a diversity rally on the Cal State Fullerton Humanities Quad on Wednesday, April 12, 2017 in Fullerton. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Ramon Pacheco, a master’s student at Cal State Fullerton, applauds after Reanne Barrett performs a rendition of Andra Day’s “Rise Up” during a diversity rally on the university’s Humanities Quad on Wednesday, April 12, 2017 in Fullerton. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Karyl Ketchum, an associate professor of Women & Gender Studies, speaks during a diversity rally on the university’s Humanities Quad on Wednesday, April 12, 2017 in Fullerton. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)



Kelly Lepley, a transgender activist, speaks during a diversity rally on the Cal State Fullerton Humanities Quad on Wednesday, April 12, 2017 in Fullerton. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Reanne Barrett, a Cal State Fullerton Women and Gender Studies major, sings “Rise Up” by Andra Day during a diversity rally on the university’s Humanities Quad on Wednesday, April 12, 2017 in Fullerton. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Fighting for the rights of transgender people is fighting for the rights of all the marginalized, several speakers told a small diversity rally on the Cal State Fullerton campus Wednesday, April 12.

“Am I speaking solely for trans rights? Am I speaking solely for women’s rights? Am I speaking solely for Dreamers’ rights? Am I speaking solely for African American rights? Am I speaking solely for LGBT rights? No, I am not. I am speaking for human rights, rights for everyone,” said Jocelyn Nickle, co-owner of the Trans Inclusive Moderate Empathy movement website.

Keynote speaker Kelly Lepley, a UPS pilot, described how she reached her childhood goal of becoming a pilot, flying MD-11s around the country, but that “deep down inside I was dying.” She transitioned in 2009, which cost her her home, marriage, savings, friends and acceptance in her church. But she came through it with her job, her true self and a passion to inspire others.

“I am one of the lucky ones,” Lepley said. “I want to work to see we aren’t an ‘agenda.’ We are real people. When released from the shackles of fear, we can do amazing things.”

Karyl Ketchum, CSUF assistant professor of women and gender studies, praised the changes that have made the university a more welcoming place for LGBT students, including the Lavender Pride Recognition Ceremony for new graduates and the TITANium portal, which allows students to enter the name they prefer to be called.

It’s a scary time because of the change in administration in Washington, Ketchum said. “We don’t know what’s going to happen to our rights.”

Defend your institutions, she urged. “We have a lot to defend here at Cal State Fullerton” because the campus has made such progress. “Diversity here is celebrated.”