An 11-year-old transgender girl led Orlando's "Come Out With Pride" event, making her the youngest grand marshal in the state's Pride parade.

Dempsey Jara took the stage at Lake Eola Park on Saturday, Oct. 21, sharing her message that being transgender is not about a choice. Instead of being happy for the young LGBTQ+ member, many netizens were concerned about Jara.

Orlando: 11-Year-Old Trans Girl Leads 'Come Out With Pride' Parade

(Photo : Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for GLAAD)
Jaime Jara and Dempsey Jara appear on stage during the 34th Annual GLAAD Media Awards at New York Hilton on May 13, 2023 in New York City.

When Jara led the Come Out With Pride parade in Orlando, she talked on the stage to share her message as an LGBTQ+ member.

"It's about being true to myself. It's about embracing who I am even when the world tries to tell me otherwise," she said.

Dempsey added that being transgender is also about standing tall in her identity despite the challenges she faces. During her speech, the 11-year-old trans girl was accompanied by her 45-year-old mother, Jaime Jara.

Jaime, a school teacher, said that her child had always preferred girl things, such as girls' toys, even before she became a trans girl.

"She'd say, 'I'm a girl in my heart and my brain.' She's been on this journey since she was 5 and she's living her best life," added her mother via the Orlando Sentinel.

The LGBTQ+ event that Dempsey led was packed with people, with over 200,000 participants expected to gather during the Pride event, as reported by Yahoo News.

Ex-Orlando state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, Florida's first openly LGBTQ+ legislator, said that the crowd of Orlando's Come Out With Pride parade was very impressive and encouraging.

"While anti-LGBTQ politicians want fear and intimidation, we see HOPE as the answer and LOVE is our resistance," said Guillermo.

Read Also: California Child Gender Identity Bill: Newsom Vetoes Bill Providing Parental Support in Custody Cases

Netizens Concerned About 11-Year-Old Trans Girl

(Photo : Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images)
Participants of the 2016 Pride Parade march through downtown on June 12, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The mood was celebratory despite news of the mass shooting this morning in a gay club in Orlando, Florida.

On X (formerly known as Twitter), many netizens didn't criticize Dempsey Jara. But, they shared their concerns about the kid's well-being.

Instead, they bashed Dempsey's parents, even accusing them of grooming the young trans girl. One of the netizens who bashed the child's parents said that they should be arrested.

Another one urged the LGBTQ+ community to stop using kids as their props to gain the acceptance and attention of the world.

Meanwhile, other X users claimed that the case of the 11-year-old trans girl in Orlando is 100% child abuse. You can check their exact comments about Dempsey Jara's parents below.

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