'People will see transgender people. Theyre going through everyday life, everyday struggles - the same as straight people, rich people, everyone,' Kisha, who appears in one of the ads, said.

Chris Geidner BuzzFeed Staff

The District of Columbia government Thursday will launch a campaign that advocates say is a first of its kind: A series of ads 'promoting respect for the Districts transgender and gender-non-conforming communities.'

One of the ads features Kisha, a trans woman who lives in D.C. The ad quotes Kisha, saying, 'I love wandering through Smithsonian museums, eating on H Street with friends, and going to shows at Howard Theatre.'

Then, the aim of the campaign: 'Im a transgender woman and Im part of DC. Please treat me the way any woman would want to be treated: with courtesy and respect.' The posters - which the D.C. Office of Human Rights has been sparking interest about on Facebook - then note that discrimination based on gender identity and expression is illegal in the District of Columbia and provide a website and phone number for more information.

Part of the D.C. government's response to a spate of anti-trans violence in the city in recent years, Mayor Vincent Gray is planning to attend tonight's launch of the campaign, a city official told BuzzFeed.

full story:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/chrisgeidner/dc-launches-first-in-the-nation-trans-respect-ad-c

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