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History of Transgender Day of Visibility

THERE IS NO DOUBT that the of members of the community who
transgender community continues to had lost their lives, and that there
face discrimination worldwide. Be it was no day to pay homage to living
in the workplace, schools, or society, transgender people.
it has been subjected to immense By 2014, the day was observed
harassment and inequality in every by activists in Ireland and Scotland
part of the world for the ‘sin’ of being while, in 2015, many transgender
born different. people took part in the event
Rachel Crandall, a US-based by participating in social media
transgender activist, founded this day in campaigns. They successfully made
2009 to raise awareness for the incredible the day go viral by posting selfies and
burden of discrimination the community personal stories.
faces in every setting imaginable. Therefore, on Transgender Day
The need to bring a day of ‘visibility’ of Visibility on March 31, annually,
for the transgender community is we recognise and revere their
indicative of the oppression they face contributions, successes, and
in many sectors of life. relentless resilience in standing tall
Crandall wanted to highlight and strong in the face of injustice.
the fact that the only transgender- Through this Day of Visibility, we
centric day that is internationally hope to induce moral responsibility
recognised is the Transgender Day of and tolerance, and lift the restrictions
Remembrance, which is in mourning on the rights of transgender people.
he International Transgender Day
of Visibility (TDOV) is an annual
day of recognition, celebrated TDOR mourns the murders of hide their identity at work now than
around the world on March 31, transgender people but doesn’t they did five years ago.
T which is dedicated to celebrating acknowledge and celebrate living The research, conducted on behalf of
the accomplishments and victories of members of the transgender Totaljobs found that two-thirds of people
transgender and non-binary people, community. TDOV is a much-needed surveyed felt they had to hide their
while simultaneously raising awareness day of empowerment, celebrating the trans status at work, compared to just
of the work that is still needed to combat lives and achievements of transgender over half of respondents when the same
discrimination and violence. people worldwide. survey was conducted five years earlier.
The day of recognition was founded The Equalities Office estimates It also found that a third of
in 2009 by US-based transgender that there are approximately 200,000 respondents had experienced
activist Rachel Crandall, a licensed to 500,000 trans people in the UK. discrimination in the workplace within
psychotherapist and the Executive However, according to a 2021 YouGov the last five years, and 43 per cent
Director of Transgender Michigan. TDOV survey of 410 trans employees across had quit their jobs because their work
was created both in reaction to the lack the country, more transgender people environment was unwelcoming.
of LGBTQ+ days of recognition for the In addition, a national survey
successes achieved by trans people, The Equalities Office estimates conducted by the Equalities Office
as well as the frustration that the only that there are approximately found that 67 per cent of trans
well-known transgender-centered day of respondents had avoided being open
recognition was the Transgender Day of 200,000 to 500,000 trans about their gender identity for fear of a
Remembrance (TDOR). people in the UK negative reaction from others.

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