Transgender Day of Visibility

Purpose

The purpose of this presentation is to raise awareness of the rights of transgender people in the United States amidst growing hostility in state legislatures and to understand the role Transgender Day of Visibility is playing in drawing attention to transgender issues such as healthcare access, equal access to education and violence through rallies and protests.

Introduction and Background

Transgender Day of Visibility (TDoV) was started in 2009 by Rachel Crandall as a response to all of the negativity surrounding Transgender people. She was hoping to bring some joy to the issue. Crandall, a licensed psychotherapist specializing in transgender issues, wanted to create a day that celebrated the living.^[1]

Crandall started TDoV in Michigan on March 31 with rallies, block parties and festivals rooted in trans joy.^[2] The rallies were a celebration of the lives and accomplishments of transgender people, but also a way to draw attention to issues in the transgender community including access to healthcare, discrimination against trans people and youth mental health.

March 31 was chosen because it was not near Trans Day of Remembrance or Pride Month, so it could stand alone.

Millions of people now celebrate DToV each year with rallies, picnics, conferences, and increased social media presence. Every major LGBTQ+ rights organization recognizes Transgender Day of Visibility with community gatherings, panels and celebrations.^[3]

President Joe Biden made it a recognized holiday in 2023. ^[4]

Analysis

Transgender Day of Visibility 2023 – Protest and Rally

Transgender Day of Visibility in 2023 included protests and rallies  across the country on March 31, 2023 in response to the increasing hostility around trans people and trans rights. The day is an opportunity for transgender people to gather together to celebrate their lives and accomplishments.

It is also a time to be visible and draw attention to issues of importance to the transgender community. 2023 was a year particularly full of anti-transgender legislation being proposed in states across the country. According to the ACLU, over 510 bills were introduced spanning the country.^[5] This is more than double the amount introduced in 2022.^[6]

Amongst the proposed legislation against transgender rights were bills authored for “banning transgender girls from girls’ sports, keeping transgender people from using restrooms in line with their gender identities and requiring schools to deadname transgender students.” ^[7] Many other bills would limit gender affirming healthcare for transgender youth. One rally in Louisiana was aimed at this very topic.^[8] “Several hundred protestors, many wearing transgender Pride flags or carrying signs painted in its iconic blue, pink and white stripes, called for justice as they moved peacefully through the streets.”^[9]

Rallies happened in many cities around the world including Washington DC, Vermont, Lisbon and Mexico City.^[10]

Rachel Crandall

Rachel Crandall is the founder of Transgender Day of Visibility. She wanted to highlight the lives and accomplishments of trans people instead of the dead. Before she started the celebration, the only day to recognize transgender people was Transgender Day of Remembrance which was dedicated to transgender people who had been killed during the previous year. Cradall wanted to “wanted a day when, rather than talking about those who passed away, we could talk about those of us who were alive.”^[11]

Works Cited

Carlisle, Madeleine. “Harassment of Doctors Serving Trans Youth Threatens Key Care.” Time, February 16, 2022. https://time.com/6146269/doctors-trans-youth-gender-affirming-care-harassment/.

Choi, Annette. “Record Number of Anti-LGBTQ Bills Were Introduced in 2023 | CNN Politics.” CNN, January 22, 2024. https://www.cnn.com/politics/anti-lgbtq-plus-state-bill-rights-dg/index.html.

Crandall-Crocker, Rachel. “Trans Day of Visibility’s Founder Knows Visibility Is a ‘Double-Edged Sword.’” Them, March 31, 2021. https://www.them.us/story/trans-day-of-visibility-founder-rachel-crandall-crocker-essay.

Hernandez, Joanna. “Chicagoans Come Together to Celebrate Transgender Day of Visibility.” WTTW News, March 31, 2023. https://news.wttw.com/2023/03/31/chicagoans-come-together-celebrate-transgender-day-visibility.

Hutchinson, Piper. “Transgender Day of Visibility Protests Marked by Anxiety over Anti-LGBTQ Legislation • Louisiana Illuminator.” Louisiana Illuminator, April 4, 2023. https://lailluminator.com/2023/04/03/transgender-day-of-visibility-protests-marked-by-anxiety-over-anti-lgbtq-legislation/.

“Mapping Attacks on LGBTQ Rights in U.S. State Legislatures in 2023.” American Civil Liberties Union, August 27, 2024. https://www.aclu.org/legislative-attacks-on-lgbtq-rights-2023.

“A Proclamation on Transgender Day of Visibility.” The White House, March 30, 2023. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/03/30/a-proclamation-on-transgender-day-of-visibility/.

Ring, Wilson. “Transgender Day of Visibility Rallies Held amid Increasingly Hostile Legislation.” PBS, March 31, 2023. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/transgender-day-of-visibility-rallies-held-amid-increasingly-hostile-legislation.

Sosin, Kate. “The History behind International Transgender Day of Visibility.” The 19th, March 31, 2021. https://19thnews.org/2021/03/history-behind-transgender-day-of-visibility/.

Swanson, Charles. “Photos: Transgender Day of Visibility 2023 Celebrated around the World.” Santa Rosa Press Democrat, April 1, 2023. https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/photos-transgender-day-of-visibility-2023-celebrated-around-the-world/?utm_source=article_share&utm_medium=copy-link-button.