Each year on March 31, we celebrate International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV).
It’s a time dedicated to celebrating transgender and nonbinary people for their contributions to society and raising awareness of the discrimination they face worldwide. It was founded in 2009 by activist Rachel Crandall in response to the LGBTQ+ community’s lackadaisical efforts in providing support for their trans siblings.
Unlike Transgender Day of Remembrance, celebrated each year on November 20, TDOV empowers transgender and nonbinary folks. It’s not a day of mourning, but a celebratory time meant to uplift trans and nonbinary individuals for who they intrinsically are and all that they do.
Despite progress towards equality in recent years, trans and nonbinary people continue to face cultural, economic, and legal challenges. Did you know that as of December 2020, the state of Tennessee won’t change the sex on a birth certificate, regardless of the circumstances? Or that Veteran Health Administration supports pre-op and post-op care for gender reassignment surgery, but does not actually perform nor pay for transition-related surgical procedures?
It’s 2021, and people are still fighting for basic rights like their proper sex assignment on their birth certificate, the ability to receive certain medical treatments, or simply walk down the street without being harassed.
As mentioned before, TDOV is about two things: acknowledging the issues trans people face, and uplifting them by recognizing and celebrating the contributions they’ve made. Trans folks, like Delaware State Senator, Sarah McBride, and mountaineer, Erin Parisi, are changing laws and moving mountains. They’re busy producing movies, like Elliot Page, and educating the future of the world, like Michigan’s Teacher of the Year in 2020, Owen Bondono.
Fighting for things that should be basic rights is time consuming and takes away from focusing on the world-changing things trans folks do every day.
That’s where transgender allies can help. While allies are not expert in the subject, they can do research and develop a greater understanding of the struggles transgender folks face. Allies can take actions in supporting their voices and making sure we vote in ways that benefit their needs.
When allies take action, it enables transgender and nonbinary folks to better live their lives as who they are instead of fighting tooth and nail to receive the same treatment and respect as others.
If you’re looking for ways you can be a better ally, begin by educating yourself. Start with TransWhat?. This website by Adam, a trans teen, is a beginner’s guide to understanding what it means to be transgender. Trans Student Educational Resources (TSER) offers useful infographics and workshops for a wider range of understanding. Other organizations, like GLAAD and Human Rights Campaign, offer specific ways in which people can help as allies.
If you are transgender or nonbinary and looking for resources that support you, check out the Project MORE resources page.
Virtual Events and Celebrations
Monday, March 29 | 8am-10am & 12-2pm
NGLCC’s First-Ever TGNC B2B & B2C MatchMakers
Contact MatchMakers@NGLCC.org
Tuesday, March 30 | 11am-12:30pm
NGLCC Celebrates Trans Day of Visibility
Program Registration (2-3pm ET)
Community & Allies Networking Registration (3-3:30pm ET)
Please see the attached flyer and below promotional language for the South Bay Trans Day of Visibility: Virtual events on Saturday April 3 from the Billy DeFrank LGBTQ+ Community Center. This includes virtual workshops and a resource fair from 12-3pm and virtual entertainment at Renegades at 8pm. Learn more at: http://southbaytdov.org/zoomfair/ and contact info@southbaytdov.org with any questions.
Saturday April 3rd | Billy DeFrank LGBTQ+ Community Center’s South Bay Trans Day of Visibility
All Virtual Zoom Fair
12-3PM
Zoom ID: 996 9783 6226,
Passcode: tdov2021
8PM
Entertainment courtesy of Renegades: www.twitch.tv/renegadesbar