Advocacy, LGBTQ+

Legacy Proud to Celebrate Transgender Day of Visibility

31
Mar

Transgender Day of Visibility is an international event on March 31 dedicated to recognizing the resilience and accomplishments of the transgender community.

By Barrett White

 

International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) is an observance celebrated annually on March 31. The date is dedicated to honoring and uplifting the accomplishments of transgender and gender expansive individuals while also raising awareness around the work that still needs to be done to achieve equity for the trans community.

The international observance was founded in 2010 by trans advocate Rachel Crandall, Executive Director and Co-founder of Transgender Michigan. Crandall founded TDOV in response to the overwhelming majority of media stories about transgender people being focused on violence against the transgender community. In contrast, Crandall’s vision for TDOV was to create a day where the collective focus would celebrate the lives of transgender people, empower them, and still acknowledge that due to discrimination, not every trans person can or wants to be visible.

“Recently while attending a local event, my partner and I, both being transgender, had to navigate some fear around being visible,” says Tony Smith, Clinic Social Worker at Legacy Beaumont. “As you can imagine, bathrooms and funny looks are never comfortable for us. After such experiences we ‘check-in’ with each other and assess for safety. While checking in, my partner reminded me of a valuable component of visibility: She reminded me that visibility, when safe, can be a life changing opportunity.”

Legacy is happily seeing transgender patients and encourages our transgender siblings to live their lives authentically. We are working every day to seek input from the community in order improve our services in an equitable manner so that we meet the needs of our patients.

Likewise, GLAAD has created numerous resources for the transgender community and their allies. To learn more about what it means to be transgender, read more on GLAAD’s website here and here. To understand how to be a better ally to the trans community, visit this additional resource by GLAAD.

Transgender and gender expansive individuals exist in all corners of the world, and Legacy believes it is important to emphasize their individual value. We celebrate the diversity of human expression in our belief that every life is valid and welcome in our clinics.

 

The following is a list of resources for transgender and gender expansive individuals in Houston, Texas, and beyond:

The Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT)

The Mahogany Project

Organización Latina Trans in Texas

Lambda Legal

The Trevor Project

  • Website
  • Phone: 866-488-7386
  • Text: Text ‘START’ to 678-678

Trans Lifeline

It Gets Better Project

Trans Youth Equality Foundation