A large reason people lack in advocacy when it comes to social and political issues is because they don’t know where to start. This article aims to give a base for anyone who wishes to start advocating for trans rights. Oliver VanWinkle ‘25 has been out as trans since the end of seventh grade, and has been a loud advocate for their rights ever since.
“In class, whenever we have a personal project, or a project we get to pick, I talk about trans people all the time. I always bring it up,” VanWinkle said.
To some, this may sound like an odd obsession with identity. In reality, this is a great way to facilitate conversation and advocate within the school community. Being willing to start or even just participate in this conversation is the first step to being an advocate. But starting out is scary, so how does one make this process a little easier? Well, like coming out, it’s easier to start your allyship with a support system.
“Get with a group, don’t do it by yourself if you don’t feel confident with it. It took me a while to be confident in myself. Like I was confident enough to be open about it, but I wasn’t confident enough to be by myself through it,” VanWinkle said.
One of the best ways to support trans people is to support their businesses. Shopping at trans owned businesses can be a great way to help the community thrive in your community. In Iowa, there are lots of trans owned businesses. Some great examples are Thistles Summit, a bakery in downtown Des Moines which offers many allergy friendly options, or The Slow Era, an online shop based in Des Moines with a focus on ‘slow fashion,’ upcycling, and sustainable practices. Most of the local businesses that are trans or lgbtq+ owned can also be found at the People’s Pride event on June 15, 2025 at Water Works Park.
Attending local pride events, such as the People’s Pride, is a great way to support the trans community. Many pride events occur in June, but others happen in May and April. One example of this is the Veridian Pride Parade which starts at 12 pm on Sunday, June 8 every year. This event ties into the Capital City Pride Festival, which is held during the second weekend of June in downtown Des Moines. Aside from the events during pride month, there are lots of options to directly support queer and trans people politically.
“If you hear about protests, or even going to pride parades and stuff, or different pride events throughout the year, try to go,” VanWinkle said.
Parades and protests go hand in hand when it comes to supporting the community. Protesting helps support trans people through a direct involvement in politics. Living as a trans person is one of the most politically controversial things one can do. No matter how unpolitical the act of existing should be, in this day and age the best way to support the people you love is to defend their human rights. There are great campaigns and websites which you can support and follow in order to find out about protests in your area. The HRC or Human Rights Campaign is a reliable campaign for activists (seasoned or new) to use for information. On their website (hrc.org), you can find events, resources, donations, and legal information for your area.
When it comes to starting out as an advocate for trans rights, respecting and protecting the people around you can be the most important step. Small things like respecting pronouns or correcting someone who’s misinformed can go a long way in moving away from transphobia as a society.
“I always try to bring awareness on my tiktok, on my instagram, on my snapchat. I always try to talk about me and my personal experience because I’ve been bullied for being trans here in the school district,” VanWinkle said.
