Sides clash in Alton at rally against trans restroom law Rule would allow students to self-identify

Both sides stand in the shade Saturday morning at a rally against federal guidelines regarding treatment of transgender youth in schools. The rally, held Saturday at the Lincoln-Douglas Square in Alton, was organized by Citizens for Child Safety, a recently-formed group opposed to the guidelines. About 70 people attended the rally, about a quarter of them counter-protesters, here standing to the left. less Both sides stand in the shade Saturday morning at a rally against federal guidelines regarding treatment of transgender youth in schools. The rally, held Saturday at the Lincoln-Douglas Square in Alton, was ... more Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Sides clash in Alton at rally against trans restroom law 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

ALTON — A rally against new guidelines on transgender students ended in catcalls and arguments as transgender rights supporters vocally clashed with several rally speakers.

About 70 people attended the rally, held at Alton’s Lincoln Douglas Square on Saturday morning. Of those in attendance, about a quarter were counter-protesters.

A group that calls itself Citizens for Child Safety had organized the rally in response to guidelines issued by the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education on transgender students. The guidelines are very controversial, and have been challenged in court by 22 states.

The guidelines state gender identity is based on the student’s or parent’s preference alone. Students must also be allowed to participate in sex-segregated activities “consistent with their gender identity” and allow students access to facilities – lockers and restrooms – under those same terms.

The rally was relatively peaceful, with most people sitting or standing in the shade with an occasional outburst from counter-protesters, until Danny Holliday, a local pastor and one of the event organizers, referred to pedophilia and bestiality as he was speaking near the end of the event. That angered many of the transgender rights supporters, who stood up and moved closer to the stage, prompting rally supporters to so the same.

Some of the transgender supporters became more vocal, attempting to counter with speakers.

One of the more active was Amy Jade, a self-identified transwoman from St. Louis, who grew up in Edwardsville.

She said the Metro Trans Umbrella Group, a LGBT advocacy group, had asked her to “get some people out here to be a counter-protest to this group.”

“The common argument against allowing trans people bathroom access is that boys will fake their gender identity and try to peek on girls,” she said after the rally. “That’s exactly what they’re saying here today. Basically what it boils down to is that they don’t trust their own boys.

“We already have laws in place that would prevent people from walking into bathrooms and harassing each other,” she said.

The rally lasted about an hour.

Ralph Blake, a local pastor and one of the event organizers, said they wanted to publicize the guidelines and educate people about them.

“Our belief is that we have a dangerous mandate that people are unaware of. We would hope that the school boards would listen to the citizens.”

Supporters of both sides talked about educating people.

Paula Lafond, who came to support transgender advocates, said it was about equal rights.

“I know people who are trans and the struggle they have every day with discrimination.”

Before the rally she also saw a friend on the other side. They hugged each other before going their separate ways.

“She just happened to be here,” Lafond said of the woman, who did not identify herself. “She saw me and came over; I’ve known her since I was born.”

Once the rally started, Holliday emceed.

After several speakers, prayer and singing “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” Holliday asked if any mothers in the crowd wanted to speak. When one of the transgender supporters raised her hand, he said, “No, we’ll have a debate later.”

At several times he told the crowd that they were not there to argue, but that they would be willing to meet and debate with leaders from the other side later.

Speakers at the rally included those of multiple races. Some talked about conservative issues such as government mandates and bureaucracy and “the left,” while others spoke about the civil rights movement.

“There is a war on our civil society and a war on Christianity, tearing at the fabric of the American culture,” said Dan Smith, another speaker. “There is no better example than this insane edict on transgender bathrooms.”

Transgender supporters started becoming vocal when Holliday referred to “founders of the transgender movement” also supporting pedophilia, bestiality and group sex, as well as saying transgender people suffer from a “mental disorder.”

“It doesn’t make any sense for anybody in their right mind to push this,” Holliday said.

The rally ended with a closing prayer soon after that.

Reach reporter Scott Cousins at 618-208-6447.