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This Sunday, 31st March, is Transgender Day of Visibility, a day aimed at celebrating trans and non-binary people and discussing issues faced by the trans community around the world.
What is Transgender Day of Visibility?
Transgender Day of Visibility was created by trans activist Rachel Crandall in 2009. The day is set up to celebrate transgender people and their contributions to society. It is a day of celebration, as opposed to Transgender Day of Remembrance, which focuses on remembering those who have lost their lives due to their gender identity. In 2021, Joe Biden officially proclaimed 31st March as International Transgender Day of Visibility.
Why do we need Transgender Day of Visibility?
Unfortunately, the transgender community is increasingly written and spoken about in a negative light in government, the media and online. Transgender Day of Visibility provides transgender and non-binary people with the opportunity to feel seen and represented in a positive and realistic way. This visibility is crucial to allow members of the community to know they are not alone and can bond with others over their shared experiences.
Let’s celebrate!
Over the last few years there have been many things to celebrate:
- In the US, the ban on transgender people serving in the military was ended
- Switzerland now allows a person to change their gender without the need for any medical interventions
- In the US, non-binary people can now use the ‘X’ gender marker in their passports
- Spain now permits gender self-identification
- Trans people are now allowed to legally change their gender in Finland without being infertile/sterilised
- 17 countries now recognise non-binary as a legal gender, including the US, Canada, Colombia, Pakistan and New Zealand
Where can I learn more?
For more information about Transgender Day of Visibility and the trans community in general, check out the following links:
- Stonewall’s Trans Hub: https://www.stonewall.org.uk/our-work/campaigns/trans-hub
- For celebratory stories and advise on how to advocate for trans rights: https://www.hrc.org/campaigns/international-transgender-day-of-visibility
- Creating a trans-inclusive workplace: https://hbr.org/2020/03/creating-a-trans-inclusive-workplace
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