Today is International Trans Day of Visibility and it’s a day to celebrate and honor the trans community. It’s an opportunity for people identifying as transgender to show pride and allies to shine the spotlight on them and show support. lgbtq businesses Created by Rachel Crandall, the head of Transgender Michigan, it was created to provide a day where people could celebrate the lives of transgender people and empower them to live authentic lives, while acknowledging that the trans community still faces discrimination and extreme violence which prevents many trans people from living authentically.
How to Become a Ally
2021 brought a record number of anti-trans legislation to the table and in the first week of 2022 alone, eight states introduced at least nine measures that target trans and nonbinary youth related to sports, healthcare and bathroom use. Becoming an ally is easy; invest 3 more minutes to read the pointers provided by GLAAD here:
Does visibility and representation really lead to social acceptance?
Findings were released from the first ever LGBTQ Inclusion in Advertising and Media study conducted by GLAAD and Procter & Gamble, in early 2020, which measured how non-LGBTQ businesses Americans respond to LGBTQ representation in television, film, and ads. The results revealed that inclusive media images lead to greater acceptance and understanding of LGBTQ people. Highlights specific to the trans community include:
- 41% of respondents who had been exposed to LGBTQ people in the media say they are more accepting of non-binary people over the past few years when compared to the respondents who had not recently seen LGBTQ people in the media (30%).
- 80% of respondents who had been exposed to LGBTQ people in the media say they are supportive of equal rights for LGBTQ people when compared to the respondents who had not recently seen LGBTQ people in the media (70%).
Not very surprising is it? Visibility and real-life experiences go a long way to understanding and acceptance.
Resources for Transgender
Transgender people in crisis should contact the following resources: The Trevor Project 24/7/365 Lifeline at 866-4-U-TREVOR (866-488-7386) or TrevorChat their online instant messaging option, or TrevorText a text-based support option. If you are looking for peer support, you can visit from anywhere in the world.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255)
Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860
Additional Resources:
- National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) (advocacy)
- Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (TLDEF) (legal services)
- Transgender Law Center (TLC) (legal services and advocacy)
- Trans People of Color Coalition (TPOCC) (advocacy)
- Trans Latina Coalition (advocacy)
- Gender Spectrum (support for families, trans youth, and educators)Trans Youth Equality Federation (support for families and trans youth)