International Transgender Day of Visibility explained

Type:international
Holiday Name:Transgender Day of Visibility
Date:March 31
Frequency:Annual
Observedby:Transgender community and supporters
Duration:1 day
Relatedto:Transgender Awareness Week, Transgender Day of Remembrance

International Transgender Day of Visibility (often referred to as TDOV or Trans Day of Visibility) is an annual event occurring every March 31 since 2009[1] [2] dedicated to celebrating transgender people and raising awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide, as well as a celebration of their contributions to society. The first International Transgender Day of Visibility was held on March 31, 2009. It has since been spearheaded by the U.S.-based youth advocacy organization Trans Student Educational Resources.[3]

History and milestones

2009 founding

The event was created by transgender activist[4] Rachel Crandall Crocker of Michigan in 2009[5] as a reaction to the lack of LGBTQ+ recognition of transgender people, citing the frustration that the only well-known transgender-centered day was the Transgender Day of Remembrance, which mourned the murders of transgender people, but did not acknowledge and celebrate living members of the transgender community. President Barack Obama and Vice President Biden first acknowledged this day for the transgender community; however, at that time no proclamation was signed.

2014

In 2014, the day was observed by activists across the world, including in Ireland[6] and Scotland.[7]

2015

In 2015, many transgender individuals participated in an online social media campaign on websites including Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Instagram. Participants posted selfies, personal stories, and statistics regarding transgender issues and other related content to raise awareness and increase visibility.[8]

2021

In 2021, U.S. President Joe Biden proclaimed March 31 as a Transgender Day of Visibility, stating in part, "I call upon all Americans to join in the fight for full equality for all transgender people." Biden was the first American president to issue a formal presidential proclamation recognizing the event.[9] [10] [11] Biden issued a similar proclamation a year later, welcoming Jeopardy! contestant and transgender woman Amy Schneider to the White House and announcing a set of measures intended to support transgender rights.[12] [13]

2024

2024 marked the 15th anniversary of Transgender Day of Visibility with celebrations planned across the globe.[14] [15] [16]

Reception

Over the years, Transgender Day of Visibility has had proponents and critics.

Supporters of TDOV have organized a variety of responsive events. In 2024, for instance, AP reported on marches in Melbourne and Philadelphia, an "inclusive roller derby" on Long Island, and a picnic in a small English town. Some places have been lit up with trans flag colors, such as Niagara Falls.[17]

To advocates of TDOV, visibility enables trans people to experience less social isolation, it "illuminates and normalizes them to the rest of the world" and it builds empathy from the cisgender majority.[18] The day is seen as a way to honor elders to trans communities, according to Shelby Chestnut of the Transgender Law Center, and "visibility means having the power and the ease to show up as all of who you are at any given moment," per Tourmaline.[19]

Similarly, a trans activist originally from Belize told UNAIDS, "Visibility is power. Only when given visibility can we raise our voices and advocate for the enjoyment of our human rights." A trans interviewee from Thailand argued that TDOV could educate the public about the needs, including health care and employment.[20]

It is important to show trans people flourishing, asserted Minneapolis city councilor Andrea Jenkins, during a period of violence against those with trans identities.[21]

Effort to increase trans visibility have been criticized by Black abolitionists, who believe facile inclusion of trans persons in popular culture "leads to flattened understandings of Black trans life" and may endanger Black trans people. As abolitionist Miss Major Griffin-Gracy stated in 2019, "I don't really understand why we need a day of visibility, when for most of us, especially us Black girls, we are as visible as we need to be. Our visibility is getting us killed."[22]

Similarly, some scholars argue that over-exposure of trans people can result in erasure, by virtue of perpetuating stereotypes or reducing people to statistical measures. Besides the paradox of visibility as a physical risk, others question whether TDOV is offering a "sanitized image of transgender people" that reinstantiates socioeconomic and racial exclusions.[23]

In 2024, TDOV coincided with the Christian holiday of Easter that year. U.S. President Biden's support of TDOV was condemned by some Christian Republicans, which caused a brief political "controversy, which has galvanized conservatives and which transgender advocates say is manufactured."[24] [25] [26]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Nenshi proclaims Trans Day of Visibility. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. April 4, 2013. April 4, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130404005217/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/story/2013/03/31/calgary-trans-day-awareness.html. live.
  2. Web site: Today is International Transgender Day of Visibility. 31 March 2014. 18 January 2016. Human Rights Campaign. September 11, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180911130856/https://www.hrc.org/blog/today-is-international-transgender-day-of-visibility. dead.
  3. Web site: On Trans Day of Visibility, Activists Rally to Turn Compassion Into Action . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20191202013008/https://www.takepart.com/article/2016/03/31/trans-visibility-day/ . December 2, 2019 . April 2, 2021 . TakePart.
  4. News: A time to celebrate. 27 March 2014. 31 March 2014. The Hamilton Spectator. April 3, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140403075929/http://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/4432181-a-time-to-celebrate. live.
  5. Web site: Carreras . Jessica . Transgender Day of Visibility plans erupt locally, nationwide . PrideSource . March 26, 2009 . April 3, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130327152446/http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=34351 . March 27, 2013 . mdy-all .
  6. Web site: Trans* Education & Advocacy Protest RTE March 31st. 31 March 2014. 31 March 2014. Gaelick. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140403043927/http://www.gaelick.com/2014/03/trans-education-advocacy-protest-rte-march-31st/34458/. April 3, 2014. mdy-all.
  7. Web site: Twitter / The_SSP_: The SSP stands in solidarity .... 31 March 2014. 31 March 2014. March 4, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304142152/https://twitter.com/The_SSP_/status/450657177901223936. live.
  8. Web site: These Trans People Are Taking Selfies To Celebrate Transgender Day Of Visibility. 31 March 2015. 18 January 2016. BuzzFeed LGBT. November 15, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151115140237/http://www.buzzfeed.com/patrickstrudwick/these-trans-people-are-taking-selfies-to-celebrate-transgend#.pdx8KvjZP. live.
  9. Web site: Jackson. Jon. March 31, 2021. Biden is the first president to issue Transgender Day of Visibility proclamation. live. Newsweek. https://web.archive.org/web/20230213122258/https://www.newsweek.com/trans-visibility-day-1580123. February 13, 2023.
  10. Web site: A Proclamation on Transgender Day Of Visibility, 2021. March 31, 2021. The White House. April 2, 2021. March 31, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210331130031/https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/03/31/a-proclamation-on-transgender-day-of-visibility-2021/. live.
  11. Web site: Hollywood luminaries sign letter supporting trans women on Trans Day of Visibility. March 31, 2021. Los Angeles Times. April 2, 2021. March 31, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210331193640/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2021-03-31/celebrity-letter-trans-day-of-visibility. live.
  12. Web site: A Proclamation on Transgender Day Of Visibility, 2022 . The White House . April 12, 2022 . March 30, 2022 . April 3, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220403042343/https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2022/03/30/a-proclamation-on-transgender-day-of-visibility-2022/ . live .
  13. News: Judd . Donald . LeBlanc . Paul . White House hosts 'Jeopardy!' star Amy Schneider to mark Transgender Day of Visibility . 12 April 2022 . CNN . March 31, 2022 . April 12, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220412012939/https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/31/politics/transgender-day-of-visibility-day-biden-administration/index.html . live .
  14. Web site: Trans Day of Visibility began 15 years ago. The founder is still moved by its success. NPR. March 30, 2024. March 30, 2024. March 31, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240331002325/https://www.npr.org/2024/03/30/1241589753/transgender-day-of-visibility-rachel-crandall-crocker. live.
  15. Web site: Joe Biden . Joe Biden . A Proclamation on Transgender Day of Visibility, 2024 . . March 30, 2024 . March 29, 2024 . March 30, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240330014209/https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2024/03/29/a-proclamation-on-transgender-day-of-visibility-2024/ . live .
  16. Web site: What to know about Day of Visibility, designed to show the world 'trans joy'. March 28, 2024. March 30, 2024. Associated Press. March 29, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240329054708/https://apnews.com/article/transgender-day-visibility-gender-affirming-0858d8f42ece877cfad27488a4ad83dd. live.
  17. News: Mulvihill . Geoff . March 29, 2024 . What to know about Day of Visibility, designed to show the world 'trans joy' . April 1, 2024 . AP News.
  18. News: Riley . Drew . March 30, 2016 . Wall of Words: Artist Drew Riley on the power of Transgender Day of Visibility . April 1, 2024 . Austin Chronicle.
  19. Web site: March 31, 2023 . Stories: Transgender Day of Visibility . April 1, 2024 . Ford Foundation.
  20. Web site: March 28, 2018 . Voices of activists for transgender rights . April 2, 2024 . UNAIDS.
  21. Sosin . Kate . March 31, 2021 . The History Behind International Transgender Day of Visibility . Ms. Magazine.
  22. Janak . Jaden . 2022 . (Trans) gendering Abolition: Black Trans Geographies, Art, and the Problem of Visibility . GLQ . 28 . 2 . 259 . 10.1215/10642684-9608175 .
  23. Redburn . Kate . 2022 . The Visibility Trap. . University of Chicago Law Review . 89 . 6 . 1546–7.
  24. News: March 30, 2024 . Sunday marks both Easter and the Transgender Day of Visibility. Cue the culture war. . April 2, 2024 . Politico.
  25. Web site: 2024-03-30 . The Trump camp and the White House clash over Biden's recognition of 'Transgender Day of Visibility' . 2024-03-31 . AP News . en.
  26. Web site: Waldenberg . Samantha . 2024-03-30 . Republicans slam Biden for proclaiming Transgender Day of Visibility on Easter, though it's yearly observed on March 31 CNN Politics . 2024-03-31 . CNN . en.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "International Transgender Day of Visibility".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.