Transgender Day of Visibility: A Day To Raise Awareness
Image: Religious Discrimination Bill rally at the State Library of Victoria in Melbourne on February 9, 2022. Photo by Sam Elkin
Every year that Transgender Day of Visibility comes around, I am filled with contrary thoughts that rub uneasily up against one another. On the one hand, I am grateful for the opportunity to shine a light on the creativity and joyous, defiant spirit of the trans and gender diverse community in Australia and around the world.听
On the other hand, I feel a creeping sense of dread about the day. Cue the inevitable debates in workplaces, caf茅s and every feral corner of the internet about the legitimacy of gender affirming-healthcare practices, access to toilets and whether lesbians face an existential peril from the triple threat of trans masculinity, non-binary identities and same-sex attracted trans women.听
I don鈥檛 like to complain too loudly though; heaven forbid that I too will be called out as yet another intolerant voice of the trans illuminati, eager to stifle free speech and pollute children鈥檚 childhoods with obscure gender theory.听
Show Your Support
Instead, I try and take care of myself. I don鈥檛 click on every article about the latest thing that . I try to limit the amount of news articles I consume about that are being debated and passed across the United States as I write.听
Tomorrow is and truthfully, visibility without power and mobilization just leads to violence so let's get active today leading up to . We got you covered at and I am going to list the most urgent actions you can take NOW.
— Chase Strangio (@chasestrangio)
I like to follow the plethora of humorous and devastatingly honest trans people I鈥檝e found on twitter like that find the strength to laugh and keep fighting despite the emotional burden of days like Colby Gordon, Lindis Sloan and Chase Strangio .
Perhaps it should be "cis day of leaving trans people alone to live their best lives" instead? Or heck, let's go with year?
— Lindis 馃 (@LindiSloan)
Some things that you might want to do to celebrate Trans Day of Visibility might include for your workplace to show solidarity throughout the year, or provide a shout out and support to the ongoing issues for Perhaps most importantly, take some time to appreciate the contribution that the many trans and gender diverse people in your lives are already making in ways both big and small.听
TDOV Stories
This year, I鈥檝e been supported by to run a creative storytelling showcase for Trans Day of Visibility to highlight the unique viewpoints of people in our local area.听
At 4pm today you can tune into hear Joy 94.9鈥檚 , writer and Asylum Seeker Resource Centre chef share personal stories and historical research about Australian trans trailblazers like .听
Here are some words from Tiff to whet your appetite:聽鈥淭ransgender Day of Visibility is very meaningful for me. Firstly being聽a trans man is not easy, but I am proud to be a person who has worked hard to be who I want to be in this world. I feel glad that I can now share my stories and experience聽with everyone. Too many out there in the trans community face so many problems. Today is a day to raise awareness of the discrimination trans people face, and honour their accomplishments. Please show support for the trans community and LGBTQIA+ people today in whatever way you can.鈥澛�
I鈥檒l leave you with some reflections from the inimitable Vincent Silk:聽鈥淭oday, I want us to be seen, heard, and understood but I don’t want us to be exposed, misconstrued,聽dismissed or objectified. In this way, I think I want what everyone wants, most days. Visibility,聽audibility and legibility are odd gifts. Today, I’ll celebrate Trans Day of Visibility. I also wish to聽celebrate Trans Day of Privacy, Trans Day of Refusal, Trans Day of Mutability and Trans Day of聽feeling the sun on my skin.鈥�
Join Trans Day of Visibility with Creative Brimbank
4pm to 5pm, 31 st March 2022 on Zoom
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Sam Elkin is a聽writer and radio maker whose essays have been published in the Griffith Review, the Kill Your Darlings and Growing Up in Country Australia (Black Inc). In 2021, Sam received an Australian Society of Authors fellowship and was shortlisted for the Deborah Cass Prize. He is the host of the 3RRR radio show Queer View Mirror and is a co-editor of Nothing to Hide: Voices of Trans and Gender Diverse Australia (Allen & Unwin).听 Sam lives and works on unceded Wurundjeri land.
Transgender Day of Visibility is very meaningful for me.
Firstly being transmen are not easy, we have to face the challenge, but I am proud to be a trans person to be who I want to be in this world. I can share my stories and experience with everyone.
too many out there trans people also face so many problems. It is very important for trans people and we have to show support for the trans community and LGBTIQA+, raise awareness of the discrimination trans people face, and honor their accomplishments.
recognizing trans and gender diverse experiences and achievement and unity.