March 31 is International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDoV)

by: REACH TEAM

Written by Amanda Miller, REACH Intern

Since 2009, Trans Day of Visibility has been annually celebrated around the globe. March 31st is dedicated to celebrating the resilience, accomplishments, and victories of transgender & gender non-conforming individuals while raising awareness of the work that is still needed to be done in order to save trans lives.

TDoV was founded by activist Rachel Crandall in response to how there was no holiday dedicated to celebrating and honoring trans lives. At the time, the only transgender- centered holiday was Transgender Day of Remembrance, which mourns the victims of violence and hate crimes. Crandall wanted to create a day that celebrated her life and the lives of transgender folks, while also raising awareness about the barriers and discrimination transgender people continue to experience.

There are over 1.4 million Americans who identify as transgender. Those who identify as transgender, or gender non-conforming deserve the same protections and acceptance as everyone else. Although this doesn’t occur often, we can continue to move toward that goal by celebrating days such as Trans Day of Visibility. For those who don’t identify as transgender or gender non-conforming, this means being an ally, engaging in important discussions, and supporting the transgender and gender non-conforming community.

While COVID-19 has created challenges for how we can celebrate Trans Day of Visibility, there are still opportunities for virtual events. Please visit Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition for a comprehensive list of upcoming events.

Resources to support the transgender community: