International Transgender Day of Visibility

On March 31st of each year, the valuable holiday of International Transgender Day of Visibility is celebrated to shine a light on a community with a rich history, to come together as one and encourage transgender individuals to live proud and free and, as the name suggests, be visible.  

This holiday is often under-recognized, so this article is here to shine some light on it in the Gateway and broader community, both to uplift those it affects and educate those who may know less. 

First, what should readers know about the transgender community, to best understand the importance of this holiday?

Terms, Tips, and Trans Basics

The term “transgender,” very often shortened to just “trans,”is used to describe a person who does not identify with the sex they were assigned at birth. The T in the acronym LGBT stands for transgender. 

For example, if an individual was assigned ‘male’ at birth, but grows up and discovers themself to align with womanhood and find comfort in being referred to as a woman, she would be a Trans Woman. If that was reversed, and it was a person born ‘female’ who finds themself identifying with masculinity and manhood, then he would likely label himself a Trans Man. 

There are also people, born of either sex, who feel connected to neither girlhood nor boyhood. Maybe they rest somewhere in between, or maybe they connect with pieces from both; a common term used for people who do not identify as a man nor a woman is Nonbinary, referring to them fitting outside of the gender binary. People who are Nonbinary generally still feel connected to the label of ‘transgender” because they do not identify with their birth sex. 

The sex is a person is assigned at birth (male or female, based on XX or XY chromosomes) does not have to determine the gender they identify themselves with. For many people under the transgender umbrella, gender can be a deeply personal topic. The phrase, “gender is a social construct,” refers to how gender, the concepts of men and women, are social indicators of how a person feels, and are not set by any specific traits or qualities of a person.

To sum that information up, “transgender” is a descriptor term for any person who does not see themselves in, or identify as, the gender correlating with the sex they were born at birth. 

This term was coined in 1971, but trans people have been around for centuries. It’s important to note that transgender people are not “something you read about in the news,” but they’re people of every surrounding community that smile and wave to their neighbors every day. Trans folks also just want to survive, get their morning coffee, and feel free to live in this country and this world. Every trans person is different and will have different things they feel comfortable with. 

But, what’s the importance of Transgender Day of Visibility? That’s the next topic it’s time to dive into.

International Transgender Day Of Visibility

International Transgender Day of Visibility was established in 2010 by trans advocate Rachel Crandall. The holiday is appreciated by allies taking time to show their respects, spreading support and positivity towards the trans people they love, and understanding the battles the trans community (and broader LGBT community) have fought and are fighting, both in history and still today.

The GLAAD article defines this holiday as, “a day to celebrate the lives and contributions of trans people, while also drawing attention to the poverty, discrimination, and violence the community faces.”

This holiday is also very significant to me personally. As most of you who know me closer may know, I am transgender, female to male. I realized this important part of me around when I turned twelve, and it became a topic of distress over my seventh grade year– I was scared to express myself and be open about this, but I was just as scared to keep hiding in the closet.

Thanks to the help of my friends, family, and Gateway’s incredible Gay Straight Alliance (GSA), I was able to gain the confidence needed to be open about being trans. These days, it’s a topic I can talk about openly without feeling the need to hide away who I really am out of fear of hatred or disapproval.

My seventh grade self would never believe it– he’d ask me if I was still falling asleep at night, in a body that did not feel mine, scared of people finding out his secret. But when I told him how we were out and proud, and even appearing the way we like to, it would mean the world to him; such is the importance of showing love and support to minors who come out as trans. It makes all the difference on their life to be given a warm bear hug rather than a hate filled lecture.

Land Of The Free– Until You’re Transgender?

In the year 2025, the transgender community is experiencing high levels of discrimination and attempts at silencing from the current US government. The Trans Legislation website gives a good glimpse into laws and bills the government is trying to pass to limit trans individual’s access to gender affirming healthcare, right to express themselves, and education on trans topics. 

In a campaign speech from October of 2024, President Trump himself has declared, “I will take historic action to defeat the toxic poison of gender ideology and reaffirm that God created two genders, male and female.”

This year, more than recent years, transgender folks feel frightened for the future this government wants for them. More than ever, it is a valuable idea for everyone reading to educate themselves on a handful of things– how to be an ally to trans people, how to write to local legislation, and the overall importance to not let fear strike their hearts and letting anti-trans hatred cause more trans people to go into hiding.

In this era of fear, and hatred, let this year’s International Transgender Day of Visibility be a beacon of hope and strengthen the community. Lowering their voices and sitting by as the hatred spreads is what this transphobic government wants from the people– exactly why they need to fight back.

Spread The Love, Spread Your Voice, Spread Your Wings

A brave member of Gateway’s GSA club, Ash DiVento, has shared inspiring words, announcing, “The only thing scarier than judgment is not being yourself.” 

This quote can expand to more than just the trans community. Every person reading has had a moment in time where it seemed easier to hide away, to avoid being judged or avoid standing out. But the moment they step into the light and feel it warm their skin, the moment they face the world with a brave smile and say, “this is who I am,” the weight on their shoulders drops and they’re left with the confidence to be themself, unapologetically.

It would also be a good time to share with you a story, from a brave anonymous student. This student is not transgender, but she has changed a big part of herself: her name. Many people go by a nickname or different name to feel more at home in their own body, but it can be very nerve-wracking to introduce oneself as something new and not know how those around them will react.

This student beautifully wrote the following:

“I don’t share this with too many people, but the name I go by is not what I have always been called. I know that this (article) is about transgender people, and I am not, but I do know that many trans people change their names to fit them better and I have the same type of story. Although I still identify as a woman, and go by she/her, I have changed my name to fit me better, to feel more me.

I knew a lot of messed up people in my childhood that made me hate my real name. Every time I hear that name, I think about those people, and I don’t feel myself, just scared. Names hold meanings, memories, and they are not always happy ones, which is why most people don’t know about my name change. 

I’m quite happy that I had changed my name, I’m lucky to have a lot of supportive people in my life that understand why I did this. I’m aware that there are people without anyone, that don’t have people like this in their lives, so I try not to take them for granted, and I’m forever grateful for those people.”

As someone who also changed the name I went by (when I came out as trans), this story was very inspiring to read, and truly struck a chord with me. Being called a name that does not fit who you are can make someone very uncomfortable in their own skin. Respecting everyone’s preference in name, pronouns, or identity is a way to show that you care about them and want them to feel safe with you! So, I’d like to give a big shout out to the student who submitted this to me, for her bravery, and for the lasting impression this left on me.

Even if a person is not personally close with any people who are openly trans, it is a good encouragement to read their stories and listen to their voices. Trans Reads is a good resource for reading up on essays, articles or stories written by trans folk, spreading their life stories for a better understanding.

Gateway Chooses Love

While Gateway is not doing much as a whole to celebrate International Transgender Day of Visibility, students and faculty can possibly show their care to this holiday in their own unique ways. Some ideas include wearing blue, pink, and white (the transgender flag colors) on March 31st, reaching out to local advocacy groups, sharing their love for your trans friends and family, or anything else that speaks to the heart.

I understand some people reading my article may have confusions or questions about the transgender community– and that’s totally alright! Anything you’d like to ask or discuss with me, you can contact me at [email protected] for a polite discussion. Hateful emails or comments will be deleted, however, because here, we choose to respect everyone. 

Different or alike, we are all humans, and love will always be stronger than hate. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and hopefully this year the world all has a nice March 31st. 🙂