A Trans Pride March in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA)
(Picture: PA Archive)Trans Day of Visibility is a time for joy. A day for cherishing the trans and non-binary community and the amazing people who reside within it – activists who are fighting for equality, celebrities who are using their platforms to shed light on what it means to be trans, and everyday trans folk who are simply existing as themselves in a world that all-too-often tells them they should be someone different.
We have seen a rise in trans visibility in recent years, especially in the media. Trans performers are finally being acknowledged for their talent; with MJ Rodriguez being the first out trans woman to be nominated for an Emmy last year, and authors like Juno Dawson and Shon Faye giving us a voice in the worlds of both fiction and non-fiction. Alongside celebrities like Elliot Page and Demi Lovato talking proudly about their identities – I personally have loved seeing Page share his gender euphoria on Instagram – and FX smash-hit Pose taking the world by storm with an incredible trans cast and crew, trans people are finally getting to step into the spotlight. Transgender actors are getting more time in front of the screen, while trans writers, directors, and producers are taking charge behind the scenes. We are becoming less like caricatures, and more like characters in our own right. We are starting to be recognised as more than a punchline or a vessel for stories of trauma.
However, with that visibility has come a rise of transphobia in the press and on social media. Anti-trans legislation is sweeping the US at an alarming rate, and transphobic attacks and anti-trans narratives have escalated in the UK in a way that is almost incomprehensible. So while it’s fantastic to celebrate the beauty of the trans community today, it’s vital for allies to step up and support us 365 days a year; in as many ways as you can.
Finally, a word for my trans siblings on this day and every other: you are strong, you are beautiful, and you are you in a way that no one else could ever be. Hold onto that knowledge as an anchor, and even when it feels like the waves are pulling you under, know that there’s always someone out here waiting to reach out and pull you ashore.
