Today is Transgender Day of Visibility, founded in 2009 to celebrate and stand in solidarity with transgender people worldwide. The day is an opportunity to recognize the resilience and achievements of transgender individuals while also acknowledging the ongoing struggles and discrimination they face. Transgender people, regardless of their ability to be out and visible, deserve respect and celebration. Cisgender women aren’t the only ones who need reproductive justice, bodily autonomy, safety, inclusion, and equality. Everyone’s humanity must be defended and celebrated. Read on for a few ways you can support transgender people.
Learn
Don’t expect transgender people to be your teachers. Each of us has a responsibility to become informed. Check out reliable sources and follow transgender creators to deepen your understanding. There are many organizations working to increase awareness and provide resources, including GLAAD, HRC, The Trevor Project, and the National Center for Transgender Equality.
Speak out
Hundreds of anti-LGBTQ bills are currently in legislatures in the United States alone, and the transgender community is particularly under attack. Transgender youth are especially vulnerable, and it’s crucial that we speak out against discrimination and advocate for their rights. It matters how we vote and who is in office, and our voices make a difference. Make yours heard by visiting Common Cause or USA.gov to tell your elected officials if they want your support, trans people must have theirs.
Change
We all make mistakes, and we all learned things growing up that are incomplete or incorrect. If you’ve learned better—or someone corrects you—show wisdom, grace, and empathy by adjusting and moving forward. Try a simple “I didn’t know that; thanks! I’ll do my best from now on.”
Normalize
Because it is normal! Using someone’s correct pronouns and respecting their identity is a basic act of human decency. Actions like adding pronouns to your social media bios, asking for someone’s pronouns or how they wish to be addressed, intentionally including transgender folks, and celebrating and validating trans people’s identities all help to lessen a stigma that shouldn’t be there in the first place.
Share
Share the work of transgender creators, share what you’ve learned, and share why you care and why it’s important. When appropriate, start real conversations about topics like discrimination or misgendering. And share the spotlight. While it’s essential for all of us to learn, speak up, and do better, if a trans person is speaking about their lived experience, listen to and amplify what they have to say.
On Transgender Day of Visibility and every day, let’s celebrate and uplift transgender voices and take action to create a world where everyone is respected and valued for who they are.
