Transgender Day of Visibility is on March 31st.
“I wanted a day that we can celebrate the living, and I wanted a day that all over the world we could all be together.”
Rachel Crandall-Crocker, TDOV founder
There is so much to mourn. Every year, we lose more transgender people to violence, and every year in November, we gather to remember those we lost. But in 2009, Rachel Crandall-Crocker of Michigan founded the Trans Day of Visibility to be held on March 31st to remind us there is more to our lives and stories than tragedy.
Right now, I don’t get to choose when I’m visible. Politicians are debating my existence. I stand on stage talking about my transness to hundreds of people. People stare at the grocery store. I am seen as Transgender before I am seen as human. I am seen as transgender before I am seen as an educator, a neighbor, or any of the other hundreds of identities I hold. I am seen as transgender before I am seen as my unique political, social, or spiritual beliefs.
I know that one of the reasons we are under attack right now is that trans people and their allies are seen as a small, silent, and unsupported part of our society. This is simply not true. We are not easy targets. We will not be wiped out. Transpeople and their allies are showing up in droves at courthouses and congressional hearings. They are pouring into the streets and bombarding social media algorithms. There are more openly trans people than ever before. There are parents of trans youth loudly defending their children in public forums.
“I read an article once by a prominent activist who said that it’s not transgender people who need to be visible right now, so much as our allies.”
Rachel Crandall-Crocker, TDOV founder
As a trans person, I find so much joy in being able to be visible. But this year, the call for TDOV is to our allies. Be visible in whatever ways you can. Wear the t-shirts, loudly and consistently respond to the transphobic ideology, fears, questions, policies, and laws. Share your support on social media. Call your representatives. Show your coworkers, families, neighbors, and friends that you care about trans people. Be visible in your support. Trans people and their allies are not a silent minority, don’t let them forget that.
To learn more about Transgender Day of Visibility, check out the following articles:
TDOV Founder Rachel Crandall-Crocker Agrees That Visibility Is A “Double-Edged Sword”