March 31 marks Trans Visibility Day. The holiday carries extra weight this year, as several U.S. states are moving to limit access to LGBTQ+ educational materials and gender affirming healthcare, as well as banning drag performances. Anti-trans rhetoric has heightened due to right-wing media personalities and some GOP politicians blaming the recent Nashville mass shooting on the trans identity of the perpetrator, mischaracterizing the trans community at large as violent.
Prior to the shooting, author J.K. Rowling, who famously penned the “Harry Potter” franchise, additionally espoused anti-trans views, insinuating that trans women were not women in an essay titled “TERF Wars”. Rowling has received criticism across the internet for her views in recent months.To combat the ongoing misinformation surrounding the trans and nonbinary community, a group of LGBTQ+ celebrities and influencers teamed up with allies to record a PSA on Trans Visibility day, broadcast through Them and Teen Vogue’s social media accounts.
For this year’s #TransDayOfVisibility, we asked friends to share a message of love & solidarity with our young trans followers, and send a rallying cry to the culture at large that we will not stand for the right wing’s political attacks. Hate ends here: https://t.co/8NX335Eoju https://t.co/1FCXS43z6x
— Them (@them) March 31, 2023
The video included clips of young transgender children and teenagers, one of whom recounted her story of moving to Connecticut with her family following the Texas bans on gender affirming healthcare for minors. The video additionally included words of encouragement from TikTok creator Dylan Mulvaney, actor Bella Ramsey, singer-songwriter Adam Lambert, comedian John Leguizamo, and more.
Bella Ramsey, known for their roles in “The Last Of Us” and “Game of Thrones,” posted a throwback photo from their childhood, and spoke of their experience with finding their nonbinary identity.
Happy TDOV to this little dude! I didn’t know the word non-binary in this picture. But I knew what it meant. Inherently. Because I always was, and always will be. Lotsa love to all of my trans, enby and gender funky friends. #TransDayOfVisibility ???? pic.twitter.com/8T5Kq6SIOW
— Bella Ramsey (@BellaRamsey) March 31, 2023
Congressman Ted Lieu (@tedlieu), who represents California’s 36th district, encouraged voters to educate themselves on the trans community today, sharing a video that profiled 14-year-old Rebecca, who loves reading and field hockey, and also identifies as transgender. The video was originally posted by the Congressional Equality Caucus, and has amassed over 40,000 views.
ADVERTISEMENT
Regardless of your political views, I simply ask that you watch this short video and then you can decide how you want to think about this issue.#TransDayOfVisibility
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) March 31, 2023
Journalist and activist Erin Reed (@erininthemorn) shared a video of a protest for access to gender affirming healthcare, and encouraged allies to uplift the trans community, today and everyday.
Today, marches will happen worldwide for #TransDayOfVisibility.
We demand liberation. No more outlawing our medical care, our dignity. No more targeting children.
To those marching: Thank you. We will bend the arc of history towards justice ourselves.pic.twitter.com/FewK3xGar0
— Erin Reed (@ErinInTheMorn) March 31, 2023
Actress Rachel Zegler encouraged fans to donate to a close personal friend of hers, so as to help them afford top surgery, a gender affirming procedure.
hey! it’s trans day of visibility! what better way to celebrate than to donate to trans folks in need! my friend friday is raising money for their top surgery. they need $5000. their v3nmo is @/fridayanderson — if you cannot donate, please share. ???????? #TransDayOfVisibility
— rachel zegler (she/her/hers) (@rachelzegler) March 31, 2023
Many artists shared positive illustrations in support of the trans community.
ADVERTISEMENT
happy #TransDayOfVisibility to the fellow less visible ones ✌️ pic.twitter.com/6mqs4jgg9v
— milk ⚡???????? HIATUS (@miIkpal) March 31, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada shared words of support for the trans community via Twitter.
Transgender and non-binary Canadians: You matter. Your lives matter. And we’ll keep working – on #TransDayOfVisibility and every day – to make sure you can live your life as your true and authentic self. You deserve nothing less than that. ????️⚧️
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) March 31, 2023
With the flood of positive messages to support a community whose rights are under attack in several U.S. states, many hope that love will conquer all in the end, and that states will eventually realize that gender identity is a personal phenomenon.
(•_•)
<) )╯Trans women are women.
/(•_•)
( (> Trans men are men.
/(•_•)
<) )╯Non-binary people are non-binary.
/Regardless of how you identify, you are affirmed and valid. #TransDayOfVisibility
— David Leavitt ????????????♂️???? (@David_Leavitt) March 31, 2023
Despite the backlash from conservative politicians, much of the internet wants to get one message across–that all gender identities are valid forms of expression, even if they were not assigned at birth.
