Mental Health/ LGBTQ+ Community ~ Trans Day of Visibility ~ (March)

 Happy Trans Day of Visibility  

Happy #transdayofvisibilty! 

March 31st

Whether you're out or not, you are valid and you are accepted within and by the LGBTQ+ Community. You are seen and you are heard and most importantly you are not alone. We are a community and as a community we fight for each other and we support each other, no amount of government oppression will be tolerated and we should all fight it in anyway we can. 

Human Rights Campaign 

The Human Rights Campaign is honouring transgender with International Transgender Day of Visibility. 

Held annually on 31st March, International Transgender Day of Visibility is a time to celebrate transgender and non-binary people from across the world, all while acknowledging the sheer determination that it takes to live openly and authentically as who they are and who they want to be. With many advocates standing u for whats right and using their voice to stand up and raise awareness for the violence and discrimination that many transgender and non-binary individuals are facing, especially trans women and men of colour and black trans men and women. 

The Human Rights Campaign President, Alphonso David released the following statement in regards to Trans Day of Visibility. 

"In the face of seemingly relentless attacks, transgender and non-binary people are more visible than ever ever before. We are proud to recognise International Transgender Day of Visibility and the determination it takes for transgender and non-binary people to be living openly and authentically today. Transgender people are our friends and family, our neighbours and our colleagues and, like all of us, simply want to live their lives every day as who they are. However, even as we celebrate International Transgender Day of Visibility, we must recognise and remember that there are many trans and non-binary people in this country and across the globe, who are not able to safely live their life as their full selves, as well as those who face discrimination and violence for living openly. Today and every day, we will fight for a world where all transgender and non-binary people are able to live their lives as their full selves, free from discrimination" 

In honour of Trans Day of Visibility, the Human Right Campaign (HRC), the National Centre for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and the LGBTQ+ Task Force are collectively co-hosting a panel, "Fierce, Fabulous and Fighting for Our Lives: A Conversation with Transgender and Non-Binary Young People." The panel features Josie Totah, Kate Sosin, Schuyler Bailar, Nico Craig, Ve'ondre Mitchell and Lala Shanks, who will collectively discuss the experiences of trans and non-binary young people across the world, as well as taking a look at how they are reacting to the continuous news cycle and the attacks on the trans community in the different countries across the globe all while covering how best to reach out to young trans and non-binary people and help them to come together as a community. 

In the earlier part of the week, (Monday & Tuesday), the Human Rights Campaign held their first ever Trans Justice & Advocacy Summit, as part of the HRC's Trans Justice Initiative. The Summit brought together advocates from across the country to learn from and connect with each other, as well as other local and national stakeholders who are committed to advancing justice. The goal of The Summit was to build ties between the HRC, the local stakeholders and the community with the hopes that together they can make a meaningful difference in the lives of transgender and non-binary individuals. Tori Cooper, HRC's Director of Community Engagement for the Transgender Justice Initiative said the following statement. 

"We're proud to celebrate the visibility and determination of transgender and non-binary people today on International Transgender Day of Visibility. Earlier this week, the Human Rights Campaign hosted our first ever Trans Justice and Advocacy Summit, to bring together advocates from across the country and to support the trans and non-binary community. The powerful conversations from that convening make it clear that the future is bright for our community. We will continue working to achieve equity for all transgender and non-binary people."

However even as we celebrate the visibility and resilience of transgender and non-binary people, there are numerous bills which target the LGBTQ+ community, especially transgender people. There are currently 192 anti-LGBTQ+ bills which are under consideration, with 93 of these directly targeted at transgender people. A record number for a single session since the Human Rights Campaign began tracking legislations, with an additional bill being sent to governors in four different states which are anti-transgender. These bills are not tackling the issue at hand. With us facing the epidemic of violence against transgender and gender non-binary individuals, especially towards transgender men and women of colour and Black trans men and women. The HRC recorded 44 deaths of transgender and non-binary people in 2020, more than ay other year since record taking violence against transgender and mom-binary individuals began in 2013, so far in 2021, the HRC has recorded 12 deaths of transgender and non-binary individuals.

In an attempt to combat the stigma attached to and against transgender and non-binary individuals, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), has collaborated with WarnerMedia on a PSA campaign to uplift the voices and stories of transgender and non-binary individuals while working towards the goal of cultivating acceptance, rejecting hate and ending the stigma for everyone in the transgender and non-binary community.