Trans Day of Visibility
Rachel Crandall-Crocker founded International Transgender Day of Visibility in 2009. This is generally a day counter to the Day of Remembrance in November, meaning this day is meant to be spent celebrating joy and representation. I put in to take today off weeks ago and am practicing some much needed self-care.
Of course, this year’s celebration feels somehow less safe than normal. It isn’t just the laws or trying to prove our humanity or even the genocide. (And that would’ve been more than enough!)
In a time when we are also fearful and in mourning with the rest of the nation over the most recent school shooting, our community is facing additional scrutiny at the worst time. The fact that the shooter was transgender has been taken to prove that all transgender people are horrible, terrible people (especially by those who already thought we were).
Aiden Hale committed these heinous murders a few days before Trans Day of Visibility, a mirror of Transgender Day of Remembrance that has become the pinnacle of naive politics that believes material progress and social equality can be won solely through symbolic gestures of liberal identitarianism. It’s precisely the shortcomings of that project—which seeks to put forth virtuous, acceptable trans people as icons of social progress—that have left us so exposed to the right’s project to stereotype and scapegoat us. Both deny trans people the moral complexity afforded to cisgender people, forcing us into a binary where others are allowed fluidity, individuality, and mercy. (source)
Part of what Gillian is talking about here is a viewpoint people with marginalized identities are pretty used to — that we have to be the best, most ideal example of a [blank] person because we somehow represent our entire community.
Additional decent articles on the shooting:
Details about the Nashville shooter's gender identity sow confusion and disinformation
Nashville shooting suspect’s gender sets attack apart from most mass shootings
Republican Politicians Are Pouncing on the Nashville Shooting to Spew Anti-Trans Rhetoric
The Right Is Using the Nashville Shooting to Declare War on Trans People
Laws
Right now, 1 in 5 American Trans Kids Live in States That Have Passed Bans on Gender-Affirming Care. Others, like Florida, are also restricting bathroom access. (By the way, Arkansas revamped their general bathroom bill slightly after listening to transgender folks about how it would limit our ability to pee, like, anywhere. Yay! Of course, this is a different bill than the one already signed specifically for school bathrooms.)
It’s why myself and many trans people are marching, protesting, and gathering today to tell people we can’t be erased.
At least Democrats Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington and Sen. Edward Markey of Massachusetts have reintroduced the federal Trans Bill of Rights as GOP tries to advance restrictions.
Parents
If you are a parent, please check these pieces out:
This is What Transgender Teens Need From Their Parents by Tyler Santora
How Parents Are Fighting to Get Their Trans Kids the Care They Need by Colleen Hamilton
Trans students and their parents ask Education Department leaders to help them fight anti-LGBTQ+ bills by Orion Rummler
40 Essential Tips, Rules, And Guidelines For Parents Of Trans Kids by yours truly (this came out today and is the main piece on the front page of Fatherly, so I’m really proud!!)
The Kids
How are trans kids doing right now? Not super well. They can’t transition, play sports, or even sing songs. (I went to college in Waukesha, and I’m not surprised.) I’m just grateful to see the ways kids are fighting back, from organizing nationwide protests to engaging media.
Between the euphemisms and custody threats, it’s rough and it’s okay to admit things are really bad.
Is visibility what we need right now?
Visibility can be great, especially if we have had none. Now that we’re visible, though, what happens? Where is our equality? Our liberation?
As Cleo Madeline points out,
“This high-profile embrace of trans individuals in culture and aesthetics belies a political climate in which trans people fare worse with each passing year… I’m not advocating for us being less visible, but advocating for a different – purposeful – visibility; visibility beyond the scope of a few congratulatory Instagram tiles.”
Visibility without moving the needle to focus on these things leads to more direct targeting of the trans community. We have a framework for changing that, for fighting back, thanks to organizations like ACTUP who paved the way for us. That doesn’t mean it isn’t hard or that we avoid discussing the difficulties.
Make sure you also check out Emily Mills’ most recent newsletter where she navigates this visibility question, too.
Are you looking for ways to actionably support the transgender community?
You can support trans youth in many ways, from donating to organizations here or those listed below to helping them organize against bathroom bans and athletic bans — or just learn how to stay safe at school. Gender Specialist has a great list. Good Good Good has one, too, specifically around celebrating today.
If you’re looking for places that can use your financial support right now:
If you’re reading this before 11 pm Eastern on Friday, March 31st, you can donate to my pal Mercury Stardust’s Second Annual TikTok-a-thon to raise over a million dollars for Point of Pride.
Shifting back to joy
I'm enjoying my second Trans Day of Visibility with a flat chest.
I can't believe that it's been only almost two years since I had top surgery. It's hard to imagine navigating the world with a large chest, even looking back at old photos.
Life is so much better on this side.
I am so much happier and healthier, regardless of how tumultuous things are. That doesn’t mean I’m not afraid — honestly, it’s the opposite. I am afraid. I do fear what happens if someone shows up at my door to attack me due to having our trans flags up or if someone jumps me in public.
As a result, I’m more mindful of the ways I speak up in public or the things I share. After all, for the first time really in my life, I have something that I don’t want to lose.
PS: I’m speaking at the TransTech Summit on Sunday. You can register for free here!
If you have feedback or anything you’d like to share, feel free to reach out to me on social media or by email (all linked here).
Take care of you, lovebug <3
Grayson