DNC Statement on Transgender Day of Visibility

DNC Chair Tom Perez, DNC LGBTQ Caucus Chair Earl Fowlkes, and DNC Member Dr. Marisa Richmond released the following joint statement on International Transgender Day of Visibility:

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“Today, we celebrate and honor transgender and non-binary people and the contributions they have made and continue to make to our country and the world – from Stonewall to the halls of public service. We celebrate artists and entrepreneurs, scientists and athletes, authors and activists. We admire all members of the transgender and non-binary community for their bravery and strength. And we remember all those who have lost their lives to tragic acts of transphobic violence.

“While we celebrate the lives of so many transgender leaders and heroes, we also recognize the significant legal, financial, and social barriers transgender and gender non-conforming people face on a daily basis and recommit to fighting all forms of discrimination through the statehouse, courthouse, White House, Capitol, school board, and town hall. Sadly, we don’t have to look far for examples of such injustice. Just yesterday, Republican Idaho Governor Brad Little signed two anti-transgender laws.

“Democrats stand with trans people in their push for full equity. We will not allow Trump and the Republican Party to drag us backward to a world that is less tolerant, less inclusive, and less just. House Democrats unanimously passed the Equality Act last year, and we look forward to a Democratic president signing it into law next year and undoing Trump’s historic record of anti-trans actions. While we still have a long road ahead to achieve full equality, we will never stop fighting.”

TDOV 2020-The Trend Line Is Positive

This particular TDOV was already guaranteed because of the COVID-19 crisis to be an unusual one.

We have William Barr, the current US Attorney General, using debunked junk science to argue that transgender girls and women are NOT women in a federal lawsuit filed to deny transgender women the right to compete in women's sports.

On the eve of TDOV we lost longtime trans advocate Lorena Borjas in New York to the virus that morning.  Later in the day, Idaho governor Brad Little (R) decided to embrace his trans oppressor gene and  signed two unjust anti-trans bills into law.

Rest in power and peace Lorena.   You will be missed by the Latinx trans community and all who loved you.

And yes, it goes without saying we've already had five murders and counting of trans folks from Puerto Rico to OKC to NYC.

So yes, while TDOV 2020 is getting off to a crappy start, we still have to remember why this March 31 day was founded by Rachel Crandall back in 2009.

TDOV is to not only recognize our existence to society, it is to also celebrate our success. And over the past year we've had a lot to celebrate. 

The FX show POSE is not only getting excellent ratings with its trans cast, there are also trans folks like Janet Mock making history behind the camera writing, directing and producing the show.

VA Del Danica Roem (D) got reelected to her Virginia House seat for another two year term, and in the process became the first out trans person REELECTED to her political seat. 

Hopefully the same thing will happen for CO state Rep Brianna Titone (D) later this year.

Sarah McBride is also running for office in DE, hoping to become the first out trans person ever elected to a state senate seat.

Our fourth out trans judge was just elected to office in Illinois in Judge Jill Rose Quinn.

In Minnesota, Council members Andrea Jenkins and Phillipe Cunningham are still on the job and serving together on the Minneapolis City Council.

I'm also proud of my Houston homegirl Jessica Zyrie, who continues to rip NY Fashion Week runways and make history on the Project Runway show.

And I can't forget my Houston homies Diamond Stylz, Mia Mix and Zee, who continue to drop knowledge on one of my fave podcasts in Marsha's Plate.

That's before I talk about you peeps who are MVT's (Most Valuable Transpeeps) for just having the courage to step out of your doors, walk down the street and commit the revolutionary act of unapologetically living your daily lives.

And time for a well deserved shout out aimed at my trans younglings.  Whether you're in elementary, middle school, high school or college, you continue to make me proud just by being your fabulous selves.

We have some talented, smart, beautiful, handsome and amazing people in our trans community.

As I like to constantly remind y'all, your family expands, not contracts after your transition, and it crosses international borders on top of that.

We are everywhere and in every profession.  We are your sons, daughters, siblings, uncles, aunts and neighbors.  All we want is the opportunity to contribute our talents to society without being harassed or jacked with.  We are not going to be erased from society, and if you trans oppressors try it, we will fight you tooth and nail ever millimeter of the way.

One of the other positive developments on this TDOV 2020 that needs to be discussed is increasing support from cisgender peeps who unapologetically embrace us.

Some of them are high profile Hollywood stars like Selenis Leyva, who supports the community and her trans sister Marizol. 

Others are athletes like Dwyane Wade and his wife Gabrielle Union, who have made it clear they support their child Zaya's transition, and pushed back against the vitriol coming from ignorant Black community transphobes about it.

And yes, there are cis politicians out there at all levels of government who unlike Republicans, are willing to stand up and defend our humanity and human rights instead of gleefully attacking them.

Trans amorous men are starting to come out of the shadows and openly declare they love trans women, you can chill with the attempts to shame them about it, and there's nothing you haters can do or say that will deter them from pursuing the women they love. .

So that's where we stand as this TDOV 2020 happens during the middle of a pandemic.   While we've had some setbacks, the overall trend line is one of positive growth and recognition that trans people exist, and we aren't going away.

Happy TDOV 2020 everybody!

Happy TDOV 2019, Everyone!

Today is not on the Transgender Day of Visibility, it is the tenth anniversary celebration of this day

It is a day that Rachel Crandall-Crocker created in 2009 to celebrate our trans successes and those of us visibly living and unapologetically being our awesome trans selves.  It has grown from a Michigan centric event to one that now spans the country and increasingly the world.

In four days I will mark the 25th anniversary of my nervously walking into IAH's Terminal C clocking in for work that day as me for the first time.

My life began on that April 4 day. It has been an amazing 25 years full of ups and downs, but it hasn't been boring. I get to do some amazing things, and I have gained an international family of trans people and supporters as a result.

I am also blessed to have a cadre of amazing cis women that have my back and were instrumental in helping me understand the journey I was about to embark upon.

I'm blessed that in these 25 years since I transitioned, I've been able to blaze trails and make history as I navigate my amazing life while evolving to become a better version of myself.

I don't have any kids, but I gained a whole lot of trans nieces and nephews along the way in addition to my two biological nieces.

I'm also pleased and proud to be considered a role model and mentor to the generations of trans people coming behind me. 

By stepping into Terminal C 25 years ago, I began to own my power and become the unapologetic Black trans woman you see standing before you today .

We can't forget on this TDOV day the trans and gender non conforming people who are non-disclosed for safety or other reasons.  You also play an important role in helping all of us gain our human rights and defending our humanity against all who would attack it for their own nefarious political gain.

When you are ready to take that visibility step,, your community will be waiting with open arms.  In the meantime, those of us who are visible will continue to fight to make the world a better place so that you can feel comfortable in taking those steps into unapologetic trans visibility.

Trans right are human rights.   And on this tenth TDOV, we are once again shouting that message as loud as we can until people get it.

Let's change the world together, starting today.

Happy TDOV everyone.

TDOV-A Candid Conversation With TENT

Was happy to discover that we actually have an event scheduled to happen in Houston on the 10th anniversary of TDOV.

The Transgender Education Network of Texas and Transform Houston are hosting a panel discussion tomorrow that will discuss the importance of trans and non binary visibility.

The panel will feature Atlantis Narcisse, Rylie Jefferson, Nick Arvizu and Mike Webb.  They will discuss what visibility means to them and the different types of visibility we have in the community.

This panel discussion will take place at 4212 Emancipation, at that address on Emancipation Ave in Houston's Third Ward and run from 7 - 9 PM CDT.

Hope you can attend this event and see this group of panelists .   

Tenth Anniversary of Transgender Day of Visibility This Sunday

On March 31, 2009,  Rachel Crandall created the International Transgender Day of Visibility as a counter to the Transgender Day of Remembrance, that takes place in November and focuses on the people we've lost to anti-trans violence.

"The day of remembrance is exactly what it is. It remembers people who died," said Crandall. "This focuses on the living."

TDOV went from being a Michigan centered event to like TDOR, one that is rapidly becoming celebrated here in the United States and and increasingly around the world.   With a federal administration in place that is openly hostile to trans people, TDOV is also a day that is rapidly gaining in community importance as it approaches its tenth anniversary this Sunday. |

Trans pride flags in the runup to International Trans Day of Visibility are appearing outside the Capitol Hill offices of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi( D-CA), Rep Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Rep Yvette Clarke (D-NY) Rep.Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-NY),  Rep Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) and countless other members of Congress.

Rep Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) and Rep Deb Haaland (D-NM) have been flying those trans pride flags long before TDOV made it cool to do so. 

There are also Trans Awareness Week events taking place on college campuses and venues around the country as a way to show solidarity with transgender people.   These events are also taking place to allow trans folks to celebrate our successes and unapologetically celebrate our trans lives.

Happy TDOV 2018!

Today is the Transgender Day of Visibility, the March 31 day in which every year we celebrate living trans folks and how awesome we are. 

And it couldn't have come at a better time considered the haters we have arrayed against us from the TERF to white fundies to the Republican Party.

TDOV is the flip side of the November 20 Transgender Day of Remembrance which is a memorial to the people we've lost to anti-trans violence. 

TDOV is a day in which allies get to show their support for the trans community.  It's a day in which we draw attention to the accomplishments of trans people here and across the world

TDOV is also the day in which we in conjunction with our allies raise our personal and community visibility

And TDOV can also be a day, as Geena Rocero did in 2014, use as the day to not only come out as trans,  but release her viral TED Talk video to the world explaining why she did so.

So Happy TDOV! 

Make Trump, Mike Pence, Potty Dan Patrick  the TERF's, Republican Party and other fundies mad by not cowering to their attempts to oppress us, but instead give it the middle finger.

TDOV is a day in which we can get started with the process of not only building community, but helping us build community so that we can make the world better for all transkind.

Transgender Day Of Visibility 2017

Today is the 8th annual celebration of the International Transgender Day of Visibility

It got its start in 2009 because its founder, Rachel Crandall, believed we needed a day that was the polar opposite on the TDOR that focused on the folks who are living and our community successes.

One of the points I wanted and needed to drive home on this day is that visibility matters.

It is only because we have come out of the shadows, told our stories and gotten more politically active is why we have made the societal progress that we have made and the hatemongers see us as a threat worthy of spending millions to oppress.

Trans rights are human rights.   They know it, we know it, and we have the facts and the moral high ground in this human rights struggle.

That visibility is also important for trans communities of color.   Far too often in the Black community there is this impression that being trans is a 'white thing'.  We have far too many sellout Black pastors and faux faith based haters in our ranks busy trying to use that impression to deny our existence,

No, boo boo kitties.  Black trans folks exist.   Gender variant people have been around as long as humanity has existed and live on nearly every continent ,including on the African continent where humanity started,  

We aren't going away.

Black trans folks are also leaders, and it's past time the TBLGQ movement recognized that and the undeniable fact that if they want to win this human rights fight, it will be needed and necessary to hire us and pay us for our talents and abilities. If you don't wish to do that then don't get mad or upset when we build our own leadership tables.

So stand tall, be proud and when you're comfortable to do so, be visible.

Trans*H4CK TDOV Panel 'On Being Black and Trans In The US'

March 31 is the Transgender Day of Visibility, and there are many event planned to focus on trans lives throughout the country

The Oakland based Trans*H4CK will be sponsoring a TDOV discussion moderated by Dr Kortney Ziegler entitled 'On Being Black and Trans in The US'.

The panelists are A. Dionne Stallworth,  Jevon Martin, Michael David Battle, Lynx M'Chea, Deja Sparks, Preston Martin and Lourdes Ashley Hunter.

This International Trans Day of Visibility, Trans*H4CK celebrates the lives of Black Trans Americans. In this live video panel, you will hear from black trans, black gender non conforming and black non-binary folks covering topics such as: Cross gender coalition building; Black Trans mental health; grassroots activism; ways to self-sustain as a black trans person with our current administration.

RSVP and join the discussion live on The LOFT March 31st at 10:00 AM PDT. 

The discussion will start at 10 AM PDT  (11:00 AM MDT, 12;00 PM CDT and 1:00 PM EDT)  and looking forward to hearing the discussion.

Equality Texas Kicks Off The TransVisible Project

Was at the Mixed Emotions Gallery in the heart of Montrose last night for the well attended kickoff of the TransVisible Project. sponsored by the EQTX Foundation with the support of the ACLU of Texas.  

And you couldn't have picked a more perfect day for this TransVisible Project kickoff to happen than on the Transgender Day of Visibility

What's the TransVisible project?  It is a collection of gallery quality photos of a diverse group of transgender and gender non conforming Texans taken by photographer Eric Edward Schell for use in a broad transgender prejudice reduction public education campaign.  Some of the TransVisible posters are in Spanish

:The purpose of TVP is to educate Texans that transgender people are our neighbors, families, coworkers and friends," said Lou Wearer, the transgender programs coordinator for Equality Texas.

The event started at 6 PM, and the enthusiasm behind this event was so high that people were lined up 15 minuted before the scheduled start of the kickoff event waiting for the gallery to open for it.

The night was dedicated to celebrating and sharing the stories of trans and gender non conforming Texans and their ongoing pursuit of equality and fairness in the Lone Star State.

The kickoff event for this year long project also featured a panel moderated by Lou Weaver with TransVisible Project participants Reagan White, Dylan Forbis and Becca Keo-Meier as they told their stories to the overflow crowd of people in attendance for the kickoff event.

I missed much of the panel discussion because I was tapped to tape an on camera interview as the educational panel discussion was going on, but once I was done with it, I did get to once again share space with many of the Houston trans and gender nonconforming folks and allies I have mad love and respect for.

I'm honored to be part of it along with my Texas trans and gender non conforming siblings. .I'm also hopeful that the TransVisible Project accomplishes its goal of reducing the anti-trans prejudice that has been fueled by the hell fire flames of anti-trans ignorance and crass short term political gain.

Counting My Trans Visibility Blessings

On April 4 I celebrate the day 22 years ago that I walked into my then airline job and began a nerve wracking first week being out and unapologetically Black and trans in the middle of Houston Intercontinental Airport Terminal C's gates.  That first long week turned into two weeks, then a month, and before I knew it I was a year into being me. .  

Now two decades plus two years have passed, and since today is the 2016 edition of the Trans Day of Visibility I wanted to talk about the blessings of being out and unapologetically trans because we hear far too often in the media the negatives, especially when it comes to trans women of color..

The first blessing is finally being able to live comfortable in my own skin and body.  Once you are able to do that, the rest of your life begins to emotionally fall into place. You stand taller, are more confident as you body matches on the outside what you have long known and felt inside.  You are willing to be a participant in life and not a spectator.  You are more willing to chase those dreams you put on hold because prior to living your trans truth a paralyzing fear hung over you like a dark cloud.

Transition makes that dark cloud go away.

You still have to deal with all the other issues that crop up that are germane to your new gender presentation along with life's curveballs.  You will have to get adjusted to dealing with all the societal baggage that comes with the new gender role, but it is an assignment you are eagerly willing to take on because it is necessary for you to do so in order to grow and evolve as a person.

One of the first things you discover is that your family expands in terms of the international network of trans brothers and sisters you begin to meet online, at regional and national conferences, board meetings, collegiate and other panel discussions, trans social groups and community meetings..

Some of those people are the famous and legendary folks that are my role models, while others may just be beginning their journey and look to you as a possibility model.

I have also met athletes, politicians, academics, journalists, writers and other wonderful people along the way that if I wasn't my fab unapologetic visible Black trans self, I doubt I would have been in the necessary situations in order for those meetings to happen.  

And the best part is many of those people I have met over the last 22 years I call my friends.  The fact that my friends are international, multigenerational and diverse in scope means that my thinking doesn't get stagnant and mired in an American-centric world view.

The same is true of cis allies.  Over the last two decades I have met some amazing people inside and outside the advocacy world.   Some are now part of my current sistahcircle, while others for various reasons were in my life for a short time period so that as I figured out later, to teach me specific life lessons I needed to learn before they moved on.   There are others who were once in my life, we got separated for a while, and now they are back to help me gain insights necessary for my current life journey.

As for my sistacircle, they are a intergenerational and multiethnic group of cis and trans women who keep my butt grounded in reality.  My sistahfriends are there with helpful advice, to get me out of a depressed mood when I'm down, celebrate my successes, be brutally honest when I need to step it up and give me a swift motivational kick in the behind when necessary.

They also ensure that I don't get Big Head Syndrome.

The cis women in my sistahcircle ensure that in addition to checking any drift toward BHS, I don't start overthinking or trying too hard when it comes to being my fabulous femme self since they have been navigating life in female bodies since birth.

My sistafriends also keep me on track in fulfilling the promise I made to several of my cis feminine work colleagues back in 1994 when I transitioned that I would be a compliment and not a detriment to Black womanhood

So what are the other benefits of being my unapologetic Black trans self?  Those peeps who knew me before transition and are still in my life have noted that I'm happier than I was two decades ago.  I know I'm much healthier now that I've come out of the trans flagged closet, and I eagerly look forward to seeing what each day will bring.  I am working diligently towards making some of the dreams I put on hold come true, and working on making others happen.

How much healthier?  Within two months after beginning to live visibly trans, my blood pressure came down noticeably despite me working in the same stress inducing airline job.

So while I have laments and complaints that could fill another 700+ word post, the reality for me is that when I sit back and do some hard solid thinking about it, the trans visibility blessings far outweigh the negatives.

Happy Trans Day Of Visibility 2016!

Today is the Trans Day of Visibility on our side of the International Date Line.  It is a rapidly growing day founded by Rachel Crandall in which we trans folks around the globe celebrate every March 31 being our fabulous selves, and demand that our humanity and human rights be respected and protected.

Unlike last year, when I spent the Transgender Day of Visibility at a White House trans women of color policy briefing event, this year I'm in the Houston city limits for TDOV..

In light of the Republican anti-trans legislative assault we are enduring in several states right now and loud calls from elements of the white gay male community to kick trans people to the political curb for their own selfish gain, #TDOV2016 couldn't come at a more critical time for our American trans community and our trans brothers and sisters around the globe.

Trans rights are human rights. Our humanity as trans people is not up for theological debate or discussion. Deal with it.

We're not only tired of it in Trans World, we're tired of the attempts of Republican politicians to legislate anti-trans bigotry or using it as a Trojan Horse to repeal human rights coverage for everyone.  And we damned sure aren't as trans elders tolerating attacks on our trans younglings. We will go to war to protect our trans kids and ensure they have a better life than we trans elders did.

And yes GOP, as you'll find out on November 8, we trans people vote.

We trans people are also tired of anti-trans bigotry and hatred being peddled in our TBLGIQ community ranks and it's past time to eradicate it.  Now more than ever, we need our cis family and friends to stand up and declare in one voice that they love their trans family and friends, and will unconditionally love, support and stand with them.

My trans brothers and sisters are beautifully human and part of the diverse mosaic of humanity, and #TDOV2016 is another chance to drive that point home.

Happy Trans Day of Visibility, everyone!  .I hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to support the trans community by attending a Transgender Day of Visibility event happening in your various locales today.

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Happy International Transgender Day Of Visibility

Today is the first celebration of what founder Rachel Crandall hopes will be an annual event, the International Transgender Day of Visibility.

One of the problems I've long complained about that has had serious repercussion with trans people's levels of acceptance in the African-American community and beyond is our lack of visibility.

Well, the International Day of Visibility wants to to change that.

Too many of us transition, then go into hiding because of the intolerance of society. We grapple with shame and guilt issues instead of being proud of who we are and having the courage to stand up and say 'I am a human being who happens to be transgender, and you will not disrespect me'

Maybe if for one day, we can get transpeople to stand up in large numbers where they don't feel alone, that will subsequently happen.

The International Transgender Day of Visibility seeks to make transpeople less of a mystery to cis folks, point out that transpeople are all around you in your daily lives and have played roles in shaping our culture and history.

This event is also an opportunity for the people who complain about the Transgender Day of Remembrance being 'too somber' to participate in an event that celebrates who we are. It's also another opportunity for our allies to stand in solidarity with us.

As the awareness of this March 31 day increases, it becomes better organized, gets more media attention and people have a year to plan events for TDOV 2011 there will probably be other things attached to the general framework of this day.

I can see future TDOV events with components such as panel discussions on our issues at various venues, trans specific coming out day ceremonies, trans themed pageants or teach ins about our history.

The possibilities and directions this day could take, especially when people put their unique cultural and international stamps on it are endless.

But I hope the overwhelming message that gets out on this day is that we exist, we're proud to be trans people, we are your sisters, brothers and family members.

I also pray that the other message resonating from this day is that as fellow human beings, we deserve to live our lives to the fullest and will not be deterred from doing so.