Protesters turned out in droves in the Castro Wednesday evening to express resistance to President Trump's Twitter declaration that transgender people would no longer be able to serve in the US armed forces — a declaration that will still need to be made official via the Defense Department, as the New York Times explains. The crowd numbered several hundred according to the Associated Press, and as you can see in photos, there were many creative signs.

San Francisco Supervisor Jeff Sheehy, the only gay member of the Board of Supervisors, issued an angry press release Wednesday condemning the president's words, saying, "Coward Donald Trump, who obtained deferments to avoid serving in the Vietnam War, including one for an alleged bone spur suffered while golfing, is attacking the brave transgender and gender non-conforming heroes who have selflessly volunteered to serve our country. Their willingness to put their lives and bodies at risk to preserve our freedom stands in stark contrast to the hateful action taken today."

Sheehy further spoke out to ABC 7 at Wednesday's rally saying that he thinks the Trump administration is breeding the next wave of hatred in America. "This is how we've always responded to the hate and bigotry we've experienced over the years and the decades," he said of the Castro gathering. "What we do is come together with love and solidarity."

48 Hills snapped a photo of trans Navy veteran Kody Horton, who took the microphone to say, "Myself and other LGBT veterans put their asses on the line for this country and the Constitution. All I ask is for the same goddam rights that we protect your asses for. I did not put my life on the line to be shit on."

Sister Nova of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence also spoke at the rally, per ABC 7, urging young people to read more news. "Read some information and find out, and come out to one of these things and listen to what people have to say. Read the fake news... read the real news. Come out to the resistance rally and listen to these people's stories. The individual stories are what really matters."

The march proceeded down Market Street, as most Castro protests do.

Meanwhile, Reuters reports today that Marine General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the military's Joint Chiefs of Staff, issued a letter clarifying that, "There will be no modifications to the current policy until the President's direction has been received by the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary has issued implementation guidance." And he added that the U.S. military would continue to "treat all of our personnel with respect."

Previously: 'Emergency Protest' Planned In Castro Following Trump's Ban On Trans People In The Military