Dodgers lose to Diamondbacks on late home run

• April 1, 2023

LOS ANGELES ― The Dodgers began the new season without a designated closer, a calculated risk after questions persisted throughout spring training about who would inherit a ninth-inning save situation.

The question of who would pitch the eighth inning was a less frequent topic of conversation, but it was more pertinent Friday.

Left-hander Alex Vesia allowed a two-run home run to pinch hitter Kyle Lewis in the eighth inning, sending the Dodgers to a 2-1 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks before an announced crowd of 45,389 at Dodger Stadium.

“The ball was a little down in the zone today, and I gave up the one hit, and just one bad pitch,” Vesia said.

Vesia (0-1) was scheduled to face two left-handed hitters and a switch hitter, Geraldo Perdomo, to begin the inning. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo replaced all three with right-handed pinch hitters. After Nick Ahmed grounded out, Vesia allowed a double to Evan Longoria.

The next batter, Lewis, pounded a 2-and-1 slider over the inner half of the plate into the left field bleachers to give the Diamondbacks the lead.

It was Vesia’s first regular-season game with pitch-timer penalties in effect, but neither he nor Dodgers manager Dave Roberts believed the timer caused him to hurry.

“Alex, he’s tried and true. He’s been good for us. And he had the experience in spring training” with the pitch timer, Roberts said.

Dodgers starter Dustin May was brilliant over seven shutout innings, allowing three hits, one walk, and striking out four. Perhaps buoyed by a bit of adrenaline in his 2023 debut, May’s four-seam fastball touched 100 mph in the first inning. It was down to the 95-98 range by the seventh, but May was able to retire 11 of the last 12 batters he faced.

The Dodgers did little to support him on offense, putting at least one runner on base in each of the first six innings without scoring a run.

The game was still scoreless until Mookie Betts tagged Diamondbacks reliever Drey Jameson (1-0) for a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning. May was suddenly in line for the victory.

“I like going deep into games, giving teams the best chance to win,” he said. “I had a low pitch count. It was a low-scoring ball game. It was a good game all around.”

Arizona quickly turned the tables against Vesia and forced Roberts to bring in his best reliever, Evan Phillips, to finish the eighth inning. Phillips got Christian Walker to fly out to center field on the only pitch he threw.

The Dodgers sent the top of their lineup – Betts, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith – to the plate in the ninth inning. Betts drew a walk against right-hander Scott McGough, then was forced out at second base when Freddie Freeman grounded out against left-hander Andrew Chafin.

Chafin got Smith to ground out, then retired Max Muncy on a pop fly to end the game.

The Dodgers went 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position and left 12 men on base. They collected only five hits and nine walks in the loss. Miguel Vargas reached base in all four of his plate appearances (three walks and a double).

“We had traffic,” Roberts said. “We squared some balls up versus (Diamondbacks starter Merrill) Kelly, unfortunately they were just right at those guys.”

May returned to the Dodgers last August following a 15-month recovery from Tommy John surgery. His results were uneven.

May made six starts last season. Three (two against the Miami Marlins, one against the San Francisco Giants) went well. Three others (two against the Padres, one against the Diamondbacks) did not. Fourteen of the 15 earned runs on his ledger came in the three poorest starts, and the Dodgers left May off their National League Division Series roster.

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May’s spring training results (a 2.95 ERA in 18-1/3 innings) were more encouraging. The 84 pitches he threw Friday were his most in a game since last September. He had never completed seven innings in a major league start.

“We went in with a game plan,” May said. “I thought we executed it well.”

With David Peralta on first base and nobody out in the second inning, the Dodgers attempted their first stolen base of the season. Peralta was initially ruled safe by second base umpire Ryan Blakney. The Diamondbacks challenged the call, however, and Peralta was ruled out after a lengthy review.

The next batter, Vargas, hit a double to the right-center field gap with the bases empty. That was the closest the Dodgers came to scoring a run until Betts’ home run.

The Dodgers used a patient attack to knock Kelly out of the game in the fourth inning. But they could not advance a runner past second base against Kelly or Jameson.

​ Orange County Register 

Los Alamitos softball shuts out Mission Viejo in Carew Classic opener

• April 1, 2023

ANAHEIM — The top of the batting order for Los Alamitos’ softball team got pitcher Berkley Vance more runs than she needed in the Griffins’ 3-0 victory over Mission Viejo in the opening round of the Michelle Carew Classic Friday at Peralta Canyon Park.

Vance, a senior who has signed with Seattle University, allowed three hits and struck out seven to earn a complete game victory and help the Griffins improve to 9-2.

“Berkley was on,” Los Alamitos coach Robert Weil said. “She had some good stuff today. She had some good strikeout pitches.”

The Griffins (8-2) are the top-ranked team in Orange County and No. 2 team in the CIF-SS Division 1 poll. They advanced to face Orange Lutheran in a second-round contest Friday night.

The Lancers defeated Mater Dei Catholic of Chula Vista 3-0 in its opening-round game Friday behind a 20-strikeout, two-hit performance by Brianne Weiss.

Mission Viejo (8-7-1) is the No. 8 team in the county top 25.

Griffins cleanup hitter Allyssa Ramos doubled home Julie Holcomb in the top of the first to give her team a 1-0 lead.

Later in the inning, Taryn Clements singled in Gabby Terrones and Camryn Johnson to make it 3-0.

Vance cruised through most of the game but needed help from her team’s team to get out of minor jams in the fifth and sixth innings.

Mission Viejo had a runner on second with one out in the fifth when Ramos, the Griffins’ catcher, made a quick throw to second, catching the runner between second and third.

Second baseman Isabella Rodriguez then made a hard throw to third baseman Giselle Alvarez, who put the tag on the runner for an out before she could make it to third.

“Ramos picking the kid off second base was huge,” Weil said.

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The Diablos had runners on first and second with one out in the sixth when Vance retired the next two hitters on a strikeout and a pop out in the infield.

“We executed,” Weil said. “That is the biggest thing.”

Mission Viejo starting pitcher Sofia Elliot settled down after the first inning, allowing two hits over the next four innings

Reece Uehara pitched the final two innings for the Diablos and allowed one hit.

​ Orange County Register 

Santa Anita horse racing consensus picks, Saturday, April 1, 2023

• April 1, 2023

The consensus box of Santa Anita horse racing picks comes from handicappers Bob Mieszerski, Art Wilson, Terry Turrell and Eddie Wilson. Here are the picks for thoroughbred races on Saturday, April 1, 2023.

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​ Orange County Register 

Caitlin Clark, Iowa end South Carolina’s unbeaten season in Final Four

• April 1, 2023

By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer

DALLAS — Caitlin Clark overwhelmed the reigning champions with another sensational game, scoring 41 points to help Iowa spoil South Carolina’s unbeaten season with a 77-73 victory on Friday night in the Final Four.

The spectacular junior guard set a record for the highest-scoring semifinal game and became the first women’s player to post back-to-back 40-point performances in the NCAA tournament. She now has the Hawkeyes in a spot they’ve never been in before – one victory away from a national championship.

“We had nothing to lose. I have all the confidence in the world in this group, and they believe right back in me, and that’s all you need,” Clark said. “All we do is believe in one another and we love each other to death, and that’s what a true team is. If you want an example of a team, that’s what this is.”

They’ll have to beat another SEC team to do that as Iowa (31-6) will face LSU in the title game on Sunday afternoon. The Tigers beat Virginia Tech, 79-72, in the first semifinal.

It’s the Tigers’ first appearance in the title game as Kim Mulkey became the second coach to take two different teams to the championship game.

Thanks to the spectacular play of Clark and the historic season by South Carolina, this was one of the most talked about and highly anticipated matchups in women’s Final Four history,

The game lived up to the hype surrounding it – the best player vs. the best team – much to the delight of the sellout crowd of over 19,000 fans.

Coach Dawn Staley and South Carolina (36-1) had won 42 in a row, including last year’s championship game.

“It was physical. You’ve got to give them a lot of credit,” Clark said. “They’re a tremendous team, they’ve had a tremendous year, obviously so well-coached.”

This was Iowa’s first appearance in the Final Four in 30 years. The last time the Hawkeyes advanced this far was 1993 and C. Vivian Stringer was the coach of that team that lost to Ohio State in overtime.

Clark wowed the crowd that included Harper Stribe, a young fan of the team who has been battling cancer. She was featured in a surprise video that informed the Hawkeyes’ star that she was the AP Player of the Year.

“I love me some Caitlin Clark,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said. “We’ve been talking about being mission-focused a lot this year, and we had a game plan and these guys executed so well. That is South Carolina we just beat, folks. Amazing.”

Clark has put on quite a show since coming to Iowa. She led the nation in scoring twice and last weekend had a game for the ages, recording the first 40-point triple-double in NCAA history to lead the Hawkeyes to the Final Four.

Now she has them on the doorstep of more history.

Trailing 59-55 entering the fourth quarter, South Carolina scored the first five points to take the lead. Clark answered right back with two deep 3-pointers and an assist to Monika Czinano to give the Hawkeyes a 67-62 lead.

South Carolina got within 69-68 on Raven Johnson’s 3-pointer before Clark got a steal for a layup with 3:32 left. Neither team scored again until star Aliyah Boston was fouled with 1:37 left. She made the second of two free throws.

Clark then scored another layup on the other end out of a timeout to make it a four-point game. After a layup by Zia Cooke made it a two-point game with 58 seconds left, the Hawkeyes ran the clock down with McKenna Warnock grabbing a huge offensive rebound off a Clark miss with 18 seconds remaining.

Clark hit two free throws after South Carolina fouled her with 13.5 seconds left. They were her 38th and 39th points, moving her past Nneka Ogwumike for the most points scored in a Final Four semifinal game.

After a putback by Johnson with 9.9 seconds left got the Gamecocks within 75-73, Clark sealed the game with two more free throws.

As the final seconds went off the clock Clark threw the ball high in the air and galloped around the court.

The loss ended a spectacular season for the defending champion Gamecocks, who were trying to become the 10th team to go through a season unbeaten.

Cooke led the Gamecocks with 24 points. Slowed by foul trouble, Boston had just eight points and 10 rebounds as the Hawkeyes packed the paint, daring South Carolina to shoot from the outside.

The Gamecocks finished 4 for 20 from 3-point range and couldn’t take advantage of their 49-25 advantage on the boards, which included 26 offensive rebounds.

1,000-POINT CLUB

Clark became the sixth player to score more than 1,000 points in a season. She joined former Hawkeyes star Megan Gustafson, breaking her school mark of 1,001. Villanova’s Maddy Siegrist also reached that milestone this season. Kelsey Plum, Jackie Stiles and Odyssey Sims were the others to do it.

​ Orange County Register 

Huntington Beach in showdown with JSerra in the National High School Invitational baseball final

• April 1, 2023

An Orange County baseball team again will be the champion of the prestigious National High School Invitational.

Huntington Beach (11-6) plays JSerra (9-6) in the tournament’s championship game Saturday at 1:30 p.m. PDT at the USA Baseball Training Complex in Cary, NC.

Orange County teams have won seven of the nine NHSI tournaments, with Huntington Beach winning it in 2016.

It was an all-Trinity League matchup in one of Friday’s semifinals. JSerra defeated Santa Margarita 4-1. Huntington Beach beat Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas 3-2 in the other semifinal.

JSerra scored all of its runs in the first inning. Charlie Caruso, a junior who is committed to Northwestern, was 2 for 3 and Cal-signed senior Dominic Smaldino drove in two runs.

CHAMPIONSHIP BOUND #NHSI23 pic.twitter.com/H31bjHYsmK

— USA Baseball Events (@USABEvents) March 31, 2023

Lions junior right-hander Matt Champion, an LSU commit, pitched a complete game. He gave up six hits while striking out four. Champion pitched a complete game in a 2-0 win over Santa Margarita on March 16.

Santa Margarita’s Logan de Groot had two hits. Eagles pitcher Brennan Bauer shut out JSerra for the final six innings.

Huntington Beach senior shortstop Dean Carpentier, a USC signee, was 4 for 4 against Bishop Gorman. Senior first baseman Ralphy Velazquez, an Arizona State signee, had a sacrifice fly for the Oilers. Senior pitcher Brad Grindlinger threw four scoreless innings.

Huntington Beach secures its spot in the #NHSI23 CHAMPIONSHIP pic.twitter.com/lhyiU71BMn

— USA Baseball Events (@USABEvents) March 31, 2023

Santa Margarita (14-3) will face Georgia’s Blessed Trinity (20-3) in a consolation matchup Saturday at 3 p.m. PDT.

Santa Margarita is No. 1 in the Orange County Top 25,while JSera is No. 5 and Huntington Beach is No. 7.

Both games for the Orange County teams Saturday will be streamed live on USABaseball.TV and @USABaseballTV on YouTube.

Huntington Beach, JSerra and Santa Margarita will play in the Boras Classic South tournament that begins April 11 at JSerra and Mater Dei.

​ Orange County Register 

‘Visibility isn’t enough,’ Los Angeles activists say at march for transgender rights

• April 1, 2023

A wave of anti-transgender legislation sweeping the country prompted queer activists and allies to organize “Trans Day of Vengeance,” a protest during the nationally recognized Trans Day of Visibility on Friday, March 31.

“Transphobia has got to go!” activists yelled, waving flags and signs while marching down Hollywood Boulevard, as honking cars drove by.

With growing attacks and discriminatory legislation on the rise, at least 200 activists on Friday marched to demand safety and equality for this community, especially vulnerable trans and queer youth — many of whom are targeted in recent bills, ranging from bathroom bills, to drag show and trans athlete bans. The march in Hollywood coincided with Trans Day of Visibility events from the Inland Empire to the coastal L.A. area to Orange County.

Marliese Hegele found Friday’s Hollywood event through TikTok, where queer content creators had been promoting local, state and national protests.

“I just wanted to show support for my community. I mean, there’s hundreds of anti-trans legislation bills being proposed, even in states that you would think would be safe,” Hegele said. “And then there’s actually ones that are horrific that are going through and being passed. And it’s very, it’s very terrifying.”

The march began on the corner of Highland and Hollywood in Los Angeles. Securing the crowd were community members who wore all-black garb, blocking their faces. Their goal was to secure the protesters, keeping an eye out for violent opposition.

While there were some police present, the community-led security helped protect the identity of protesters, especially youth, by blocking onlookers with cameras with signage and umbrellas.

Leading up to Friday’s demonstration, President Joe Biden officially recognized the movement in a proclamation on Thursday, March 30. California lawmakers also recognized as Trans Visibility Week with several events at the Capitol.

A self-proclaimed “craftivist” named KoKo handed out self-protection items that she made of resin.

“The cops aren’t here to keep us safe… they’re not gonna stand here and make sure that we’re not being attacked,” she said at the march. “Trans people are not people to be terrified of.”

In 2022, the majority of transgender and gender non-conforming people killed were transgender women, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Transgender people of color accounted for the majority of victims, over 76%, with Black transgender people accounting for a plurality (19, or over 56%).

Ronnie DeVreux had tears in his eyes, watching his husband Thaddeus join the crowd of organizers in the street. Both are trans.

“All my cis (gender) friends, all my cis workers, everyone, are completely in bliss,” he said. “They’re not aware of anything that’s going on. They don’t know how much pain I’m in.”

Trans Day of Visibility was originally established in 2009 by trans activist Rachel Crandall-Crocker, the current head of advocacy group Transgender Michigan. Since its creation more than a decade ago, events have grown in popularity to honor the death of trans activists, celebrate the lives of trans folks, and raise awareness of ongoing violence and discrimination.

The “Trans Day of Vengeance” moniker came from a meme that had been in the trans community for years. Activists say it is a “more radical” take on the same circumstances, one that is highly critical of pacifism towards state terrorism, hatred towards transgender people and respectability politics.

Ahead of the national event, Twitter removed more than 5,000 tweets and retweets of a poster promoting the Washington D.C.  “Trans Day of Vengeance” rally staged Friday, which was later canceled due to safety concerns for those involved.

In a tweet, Ella Irwin, Twitter’s head of Trust and Safety, cited that the poster’s verbiage “incites violence.” But on its website, organizers said it does not condone violence, and in a statement strongly rejected any connection between the shooting at a school in Nashville and the planned protest.

“Vengeance means fighting back with vehemence,” the D.C. protest’s organizers wrote on their website. “We are fighting against false narratives, criminalization, and eradication of our existence.”

According to a 2023 anti-trans bills tracker published on translegislation.com, there are 489  bills in 47 states. As of this reporting, 421 are active as 25 have passed and 43 have failed. In 2022, 26 bills of the 174 bills proposed (15%) passed, most of which target trans and queer youth.

The bills targets range from restriction from access of gender affirming care and safety (such as bathroom bills), drag show bans and trans athlete bans.

“We refuse to live in fear. We refuse to be eradicated,” stated the rally’s call to action posted on a queer activist Instagram. The term eradication was used by a far right Daily Wire commentator, Michael Knowles, during a Conservative Political Action Committee gathering in early March. Knowles has previously stated that genocide against Transgender people is not possible because “they are not a legitimate category of being.”

The transgender community has always been threatened with violence, but activists predict that the onslaught of anti transgender legislation perpetuates violence.

On Friday, other community events recognizing Trans Day of Visibility were held in downtown Riverside, Long Beach, Pomona and Santa Ana.

Pomona’s march, which was organized by the Pomona Pride Center, went from the center to Pomona City Hall.

Frank Guzman, the groups’ president and executive director, said that while LGBTQ+ Californians are “a little more lucky” than residents of some other states, the recent surge in anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments was hitting closer to home.

“It opens a door for more to come,” he said. “And so we need to be prepared, and need to fight it right off the bat.”

Long Beach resident Zo Woodard came to the resource fair held at the city’s Bixby Park.

“I feel like some places don’t have things like these and it feels like a safe space,” Woodard said.

But while many celebrated, others want their message to be heard loud and clear: that “trans rights are human rights.”

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Bill would force California schools to tell parents if their child is transgender
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Bree Serrano, an adjunct faculty in ethnic and women studies at Cal Poly Pomona, said that this latest wave of anti-transgender legislation will bring more queer people to seek safety in parts of the West — including in California.

Serrano added that, much like with the matter of women’s reproductive rights, these safe “havens” must make strong, concerted efforts to increase protections for gender-affirming care for children and adults alike.

“This is going to ban trans children from becoming adults,” they said. “It really perpetuates the notions that anything that exists outside of white, cisgender straightness should therefore be eliminated, and not allowed to exist in public. A concept at the detriment of children when, meanwhile, there are still guns killing children and people killing children with guns.”

Staff writers Christina Merino, Roxana Kopetman, Kristy Hutchings and Sarah Hofmann contributed to this report. 

​ Orange County Register 

Why the Dodgers aren’t off to the races stealing bases

• April 1, 2023

LOS ANGELES ― The Dodgers batted 11 times with a runner on first base and second base empty on Thursday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks. They had plenty of opportunities to test the new rules across Major League Baseball designed to encourage more stolen bases.

Through one game, the Dodgers were still perfect trying to steal a base: 0 for 0.

The new rules – limits on pickoff throws and larger bases – elicited a clear result with all 30 teams active on Opening Day. Overall, runners were 21 for 23, a small-sample signal that the rules have a chance to achieve their desired result.

The Dodgers lost their best base-stealer last season, Trea Turner. He signed with the Philadelphia Phillies as a free agent in December. But three returning players (Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Chris Taylor) stole at least 10 bases last season. Veteran Jason Heyward has a 20-steal season on his resume. Rookie center fielder James Outman twice stole 20 bases in a season at the minor-league level.

“Maybe we don’t have the Trea Turner, the elite-elite type, but we have a lot of guys who are very athletic who can run,” first base coach Clayton McCullough said, “and hopefully are able to take advantage of some of these new rules MLB has put in.”

Spring training bore that out. The Dodgers stole 22 bases in 26 attempts during the exhibition season, more than all but six teams. Compare that to spring training last year, when the Dodgers were the only team without a stolen base, and the difference is obvious.

Thursday’s matchup was atypical in a few regards. The Diamondbacks’ starting pitcher was Zac Gallen, who is aggressive among right-handed pitchers holding runners on base. No pitcher attempted more pickoff throws last year than Gallen.

Once, Gallen threw to first base twice during the same plate appearance. Another throw to first base would have risked incurring a balk if the pickoff attempt didn’t succeed. Afterward, Manager Dave Roberts said, Gallen shortened his delivery time to home plate.

Pair Gallen with a catcher, Gabriel Moreno, who comes with the reputation of an above-average throwing arm, and the Dodgers’ conservative approach Thursday made sense.

Their strategy will change from game to game.

“Each game is its own individual entity,” McCullough said. “Who do we have over there? What’s their pitcher-catcher combination? Where are we at in the lineup? What’s the score? Instead of, just, everybody who gets on there is just going to be a free-for-all for everybody.”

Said Roberts: “I’m not going to run just to run.”

DAY OFF FOR SMITH

Catcher Will Smith, who is off to a hot start, will not be in the starting lineup Saturday, Roberts said. Austin Barnes will catch Clayton Kershaw’s first start of the regular season instead.

Barnes caught the majority (13 of 22) of Kershaw’s starts last season, but Roberts said that will “not necessarily” be the case in 2023.

“I didn’t want Will to catch three in a row out of the gate because he hasn’t done that since last year,” Roberts said. “If it lines up with Clayton and (his and Barnes’) familiarity, that’s great, but it’s not something we’re trying to make happen because they’re familiar.”

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Smith was the Dodgers’ designated hitter in 24 of the 56 games he did not start last season, but that number figures go down this season.

“J.D. (Martinez) is the DH,” Roberts said. “Is it hard to get Will out of the lineup? Absolutely it’s hard to get Will out of the lineup. But understanding we’ve got to keep him sharp, fresh, and also Austin needs to play too.”

ALSO

Tony Gonsolin, who is recovering from an ankle sprain, will throw a bullpen session on Sunday, Roberts said. If he emerges healthy, Gonsolin’s next mound work will come against live hitters Wednesday.

UP NEXT

Arizona Diamondbacks (LHP Madison Bumgarner) at Dodgers (LHP Clayton Kershaw), Saturday, 6 p.m., SportsNet LA, MLB Network (out-of-market only), 570 AM

​ Orange County Register 

Trans Day of Visibility celebrated through art, performances and resources in Orange County

• April 1, 2023

As transgender people and allies gathered or marched across the country this week, a celebration took place in Santa Ana honoring the annual International Transgender Day of Visibility.

Rather than march, the LGBTQ Center OC hosted an event featuring an open mic, drag performances, art exhibit and resources like free clothing.

“It’s a celebration to uplift the trans community,” said Manuel Antunez, the center’s LGBTQ+ health and trans services coordinator. This year’s theme: “Stand in your truth.“

At least 150 people attended the event Friday evening, with drag performances on the balcony of the LGBTQ Center OC overlooking 4th Street. An indigenous prayer opened the event, and a “glam closet” with various clothing items was available.

The international Transgender Day of Visibility event was created in 2009 by transgender activist Rachel Crandall. In Southern California, there were several events planned for Friday, March 31, including in Hollywood, Long Beach and Riverside.

In some places, including Hollywood, activists planned to stage protests under the banner “Trans Day of Vengeance,” calling attention to the increasing number of attacks and legislation against people who identify as trans, as well as against the general LGBTQ+ community.

Activists say the “vengeance” moniker derives from a meme that has been around the trans community for years and is not a call to violence, according to The Associated Press. Still, Twitter removed thousands of tweets promoting a “trans day of vengeance” demonstration in Washington, D.C., Saturday— the social media company’s head of Trust and Safety said the term “vengeance” doesn’t “imply a peaceful protest” — and that rally was ultimately canceled due to “a credible threat to life and safety,” organizers said.

Friday evening’s celebration in Santa Ana aimed to “create an atmosphere of joy and celebration where we can unite and support one another,” according to the event description. It also provided an option for people to still participate who might not feel comfortable showing up in person: the ability to submit an art piece to be displayed at the event.

Related links

This is how you can celebrate, advocate during International Trans Day of Visibility
Transgender Day of Visibility rallies held amid backlash
Bill would force California schools to tell parents if their child is transgender
Transgender youth: ‘Forced outing’ bills make schools unsafe

In 2022, at least 38 transgender people were killed in the U.S., according to the Human Rights Campaign, which advocates for the LGBTQ+ community. There are more than 1.6 million trans youth and adults across the country, the organization reports

The American Civil Liberties Union is tracking 435 anti-LGBTQ+ bills in the U.S. The legislation includes bills that aim to limit the ability for trans individuals to update gender information on their IDs and records, use public bathrooms and locker rooms or access medically-necessary health care.

By the end of last year, “a record 17 bills attacking transgender and non-binary children passed into law,” according to the Human Rights Campaign.

There is also additional scrutiny in public schools. Some conservative parents complain that educators are out to indoctrinate their children with liberal ideology, particularly regarding gender identity issues. Other parents say it’s the conservatives pushing an agenda of discrimination against students who don’t identify as heterosexual.

In Orange County, Orange Unified and Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified are among the districts where books written by LGBTQ+ authors or describing their experiences have drawn the attention of some parents and school board members.

Local advocates also point to Huntington Beach, where a split City Council recently decided to fly only certain official flags, effectively barring the rainbow-colored pride flag that has been flown at City Hall the last couple of years during Pride Month.

“That was a call to action,” Antunez said, “to come together, go to City Hall to ensure we have a presence and support our community.”

Meanwhile, Antunez said, Transgender Day of Visibility is another opportunity to support a group of people who face discrimination, a high suicide rate and other challenges because they don’t identify with the gender they were born with.

President Joe Biden marked the day with a statement from the White House: “On Transgender Day of Visibility, we celebrate the strength, joy, and absolute courage of some of the bravest people I know.”

Transgender Americans, he said, “deserve to be safe and supported in every community — but today, across our country, MAGA extremists are advancing hundreds of hateful and extreme state laws that target transgender kids and their families. No one should have to be brave just to be themselves.”

“These attacks are un-American and must end,” said Biden, who a day earlier issued a proclamation declaring Friday as “Transgender Day of Visibility.”

Noting that more than half of the nation’s transgender youth say they have seriously considered suicide, Biden urged them to call 988, a suicide prevention and crisis hotline. Callers can press “3” to speak with a counselor specifically trained to support LGBTQ+ youth.

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​ Orange County Register