When “Visibility” Becomes Exclusion: A Civil Rights Analysis of the Rohnert Park–Cotati Library Trans Day of Visibility Panel

Silenced for My Faith in a Public Space Built for Everyone

Yesterday, I attended the Rohnert Park–Cotati Regional Library’s Trans Day of Visibility Panel Discussion, led by Janna Barkin, a white liberal ‘cisgender’ woman from Marin County. I sat through the entire event quietly, listening, observing, and waiting for the Q&A portion to respectfully ask a question. What unfolded instead was a disturbing example of viewpoint discrimination, religious hostility, and racialized exclusion inside a publicly funded institution.

Why I Spoke Up: Sonoma County’s Eugenics History and the Erasure of BIPOC Christian Voices

As a biracial woman, I cannot ignore Sonoma County’s history. This county was once the epicenter of American eugenics, forcibly sterilizing more BIPOC residents than anywhere else in the nation. That legacy matters because it reveals a long pattern of white‑led institutions deciding what marginalized communities should believe, accept, or conform to.

So when the Q&A opened, I raised my hand and stated:

• My identity is in Jesus Christ

• Pride is a sin according to my faith

• And I asked whether the panel felt comfortable pushing an ideological agenda created by wealthy white activists onto Christian and Catholic BIPOC communities

This was a constitutionally protected religious viewpoint. It was a historically grounded question. It was calm, respectful, and directly relevant to the topic of “visibility.”

The reaction I received was anything but respectful.

The Moment I Spoke: Profanity, Hostility, and Being Removed From a Public Library

The moment I finished my question, the library staff, panelists, and audience—almost entirely white—began yelling at me. I was called “hateful,” “disrespectful,” and other profanities. Instead of engaging with my question, they attacked my character and demanded I leave.

I was kicked out of a public library for expressing a Christian viewpoint during the designated Q&A portion of a public event.

I was not disruptive.
I was not threatening.
I was participating exactly as the event allowed.

What happened to me was viewpoint discrimination, religious discrimination, and—given the racial dynamics—racial bias.

What Happened to My Elder After I Was Removed

After I was forced out, my elder—who had been sitting quietly the entire time—texted me that he was being attacked. I immediately returned to the library. He described the following:

• Jessica Romero, the Community Engagement Division Manager, repeatedly threatened to “trespass” him and have police escort him out

• A man falsely accused him of recording and demanded to inspect his personal device

• A panelist physically took both of his devices and placed them at the front table

• Audience members yelled “F*** you” at him

• A young attendee got in his face, accusing him of being “under the influence”

• The same man who demanded his device called the police claiming he “suspected intoxication”

• Jessica Romero physically blocked him, bumped him, and tried to prevent him from re‑entering the library even though it was still open

My elder had done nothing wrong.
He was quiet.
He was respectful.
He was targeted.

The accusations of intoxication—baseless and weaponized—are a tactic historically used against individuals to justify removal or police involvement.

If security cameras captured what happened, the public would see exactly how chaotic and discriminatory the behavior was.

Public Libraries Are Government Actors — and They Violated Our Rights

A public library is not a private club.
Its staff are government employees.
They are bound by:

• The First Amendment

• The Fourteenth Amendment

• The Unruh Civil Rights Act

• The Bane Act

• Federal civil rights protections under 42 U.S.C. § 1983

Removing me for expressing a Christian viewpoint is unconstitutional.
Seizing my elder’s devices is unlawful.
Physically blocking him is unacceptable.
Calling the police on him under false pretenses is discriminatory.

These actions were not “safety measures.”
They were civil rights violations.

The Racial Dynamics: A Biracial Christian Woman Surrounded by a White Audience

I cannot ignore the racial reality of what happened.

I was the only biracial Christian woman in a room full of white attendees.
The moment I expressed a viewpoint rooted in my faith, I was shouted down, insulted, and removed.

This is not inclusion.
This is not equity.
This is ideological segregation, enforced by white progressives who believe they have the authority to decide which identities are acceptable in public spaces.

My Meeting With the Rohnert Park Police Chief

This afternoon, my elder and I will meet with the Rohnert Park Police Chief. I told Chief Mattos:

• I appreciate his officers and the professionalism they consistently show

• I was disgusted by the behavior of the library staff and panelists

• I do not feel welcome as a Christian in Sonoma County

This meeting created a formal record.
It also made clear that I will not allow my rights—or my elder’s rights—to be violated in silence.

What This Incident Reveals About Sonoma County

This was not an isolated incident. It reflects a broader pattern in Sonoma County:

• Christian voices are marginalized

• BIPOC Christians are treated as ideological outsiders

• Public institutions enforce conformity under the banner of “inclusion”

• Dissent is labeled “hate”

• White progressives police the speech of BIPOC residents while claiming to champion diversity

When a public library becomes a place where only one worldview is allowed, it stops being a public institution. It becomes an ideological gatekeeper.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” — Matthew 5:10