No Kings III HRC Shows Visibility, Solidarity and Trans Joy

On March 28, just days before Trans Day of Visibility on March 31, HRC joined thousands of people nationwide in taking to the streets, parks, and public spaces to send a clear and joyful message to the transgender community: you are loved, you are valued and we are not going anywhere.

From Minneapolis to Los Angeles, and communities everywhere in between, people gathered to celebrate courage, stand against hate and affirm that real power has always belonged to the people — not dictators. Families, neighbors, advocates, faith leaders, allies and people of all backgrounds came together with one shared purpose: to build a future rooted in dignity, safety and belonging for everyone. HRC was proud to meet that moment with a clear message: trans lives should be celebrated.

In advance of No Kings III, HRC recruited and empowered 142 leaders across 30 states to mobilize their communities. HRC staff supported this work through organizing calls, trainings, toolkits and digital resources in the weeks leading up to the mobilization. These trainings focused on safe protest participation, volunteer recruitment, storytelling and social media best practices and on-the-ground coordination. Leaders also received one-on-one support from me and members of the National Campaigns team as they prepared to activate their communities locally.

As a staff leader, one of the most meaningful parts of this work was witnessing people step into leadership in real time. Many of the volunteers we supported had never organized at this scale before, yet they stepped forward with deep commitment to their communities and a willingness to learn. Our role was not only to provide tools and trainings, but to create the conditions for people to lead with confidence. Watching that leadership grow – call by call, conversation by conversation — was a powerful reminder of what distributed organizing makes possible when people are trusted and supported.

At the same time, we saw how quickly local organizing became national storytelling. As community leaders shared personal photos, videos and reflections across social media, and local press elevated emerging voices from No Kings III, their work moved beyond individual communities into a broader public narrative. This reinforced that effective distributed organizing depends on training, communications and field support working as one integrated system — to support volunteer leadership on the ground. These moments also shape what comes next, ensuring that what happens in the field is not only supported, but also seen, shared and sustained.

HRC President Kelley Robinson joined organizers in Los Angeles and spoke at the rally, where she lifted up the urgency of confronting escalating attacks on transgender people and LGBTQ+ communities and emphasized that visibility must be matched with sustained action, long-term organizing and shared leadership. Every person marching carried someone in their heart: a transgender child, a queer sibling, a friend, a neighbor or a loved one whose safety and future matter deeply.

As Jen in Texas shared:

“I am showing up at No Kings III, because I believe it's important to show that the power of the people is greater than the people in power — that we ALL matter, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, skin color or creed. We will unite in love and against hate, and show that this administration's attacks on the people will NOT be allowed to continue.” 

Nationwide, HRC transformed No Kings III into a vibrant show of transgender visibility and LGBTQ+ pride ahead of Trans Day of Visibility. Organizers distributed TDOV signs, flags and shirts so communities everywhere could proudly display the colors of the transgender flag and celebrate the resilience of transgender people. Streets filled with blue, pink and white as marchers waved Trans Pride flags and celebrated transgender resilience. Some of HRC’s organizers shared these stories: 

No Kings III was never only about protest. It was about community — choosing connection over division and love over fear, and building something larger than any single event: a national movement rooted in care, courage and collective action.

For those inspired by No Kings III, there are opportunities to get involved today through HRC’s Distributed Organizing Program, volunteer engagement, electoral organizing and national campaigns advancing LGBTQ+ rights and healthcare access, including our 100 Days of Healthcare initiative. 

Because when people choose solidarity, hope becomes unstoppable.