International Transgender Day of Visibility, also referred to as TDOV, takes place on March 31st each year since 2009. TDOV is meant to celebrate the transgender community and its contributions to society, as well as call attention to the discrimination faced by transgender people across the globe.

International Transgender Day of Visibility was founded by Rachel Crandall-Crocker. Crandall-Crocker is a transgender woman from Michigan and is the first transgender person to receive the Liberty Bell Award. This award is meant to honor citizens who are outstanding in their local communities. In 1985 she received her master’s degree in social work from Michigan State University and since then has been working as a licensed psychotherapist specializing in transgender care. Crandall-Crocker is also a member of the National Association of Social Workers and provides education and training on transgender care for therapists.

When Rachel Crandall-Crocker came out to her family and peers in 1997, she was shunned, fired from her job, and kicked out of her home. Soon after, she co-founded Transgender Michigan (a community organization) with her now-wife, Susan Crocker. Some of Transgender Michigan’s goals are to advocate for equality, social justice, and inclusion of transgender individuals and their significant others, families, friends, and allies. As well as to provide support for transgender individuals and their significant others, families, friends, and allies.

In 2009 Crandall-Crocker created International Transgender Day of Visibility as a response to the only other transgender-centered event, Transgender Day of Remembrance (which is for honoring those who have been murdered by people harboring transphobic ideals). International Transgender Day of Visibility was highlighted in 2021 by President Joe Biden when he issued the first presidential proclamation regarding the event, and he invited Jeopardy Game Show champion Amy Schneider to the White House to commemorate a set of measures meant to reinforce transgender rights. Amy Schneider is the most successful woman and most successful transgender contestant to ever compete on Jeopardy, with her 40-game win streak and $1.6 million dollars in winnings.

International Transgender Day of Visibility has been led by Trans Student Educational Resources, which is an organization run by youth who seek to transform schools and educational environments for transgender youths. This organization was founded in 2011 by two 16-year-old transgender girls and is the only national organization that is run by young transgender people. Most of their organization’s efforts focus on policy and education reform, as well as peaceful protests and scholarship rewards.

International Transgender Day of Visibility has also been heavily promoted by the Human Rights Campaign, which has been leading the fight for LGBTQ+ rights for over 40 years. Their mission is to fight for equality and civil rights for all LGBTQ+ people and seek to accomplish this mission through mobilization of civilian efforts and demanding equity-based legislation and policies. The Human Rights Campaign offers helpful advice on how to be a good ally and how to support trans people around you in your community. Firstly, remind those around you that trans and non-binary people exist in all phases of life, so it’s important to remember to be kind to everyone around you. If you are uncertain about how to broach the topic of gender identity, the Human Rights Campaign has a YouTube channel with lots of helpful videos. Another way to be a good ally is small everyday things that can make the people around you feel more affirmed. For example, ask people what their pronouns are instead of assuming based on their appearance, use gender-neutral terms such as ‘colleagues’ or ‘friends’ instead of gendered terms like ‘ladies and gentlemen’, and lastly avoid statements or questions like ‘Wow I couldn’t even tell that you’re transgender’ or ‘When is your next surgery?” because they are microaggressions which can dehumanize a transgender person and make them feel like their identity has not met society’s standards. In addition, it is important to learn more about the transgender community and their experiences. Staying well-informed and educating others is a great way to be a good transgender ally.

HAVEN serves all people in their community, including those part of the LGBTQ+ community. HAVEN’s confidential crisis support line (1-603-994-7233) is available 24 hours a day and staffed by trained advocates.

Resources:

https://www.hrc.org/resources/be-an-ally-support-trans-equality

https://www.hrc.org/about

https://www.transgendermichigan.org/introduction-1