According to Trans Student Educational Resources, 80 percent of transgender students feel unsafe at school, 50 percent of trans people have been raped or assaulted by a partner, and 41 percent of trans people have attempted suicide. Which is why Trans Day of Visibility, March 31, is so important.
Created in 2010 by Rachel Crandell, the head of Transgender Michigan, Trans Day of Visibility celebrates the transgender community by sharing the accomplishments of trans people and education on trans issues in order to challenge transphobia and misrepresentation of trans people.
Using the hashtags #TDOV and #TransResistance, trans people graced Twitter with stories and selfies, sharing why today is meaningful to them—and why a Trans Day of Visibility isn’t a complete win for the trans community, too.
Some tweeted why Trans Day of Visibility is personally important, sharing instances of discrimination they face daily, or examples of trans visibility that help empower the trans community.
We are visible because we must be in a world that seeks to hide us and dehumanize us. #TDoV #TransResistance
— Zach🌹 (@Zachxk) March 31, 2017
At school not many people now I am trans, only because it's not obvious but if they ask about I do try to educate them #TDOV
— Lou (@Mx_lucifer131) March 31, 2017
As a kid I was terrified because I was trans, I'd never seen another trans person, & I'd never seen one that was treated with respect. #tdov
— Sophie Cook (@sophiecooktalks) March 31, 2017
-I’m angry that the first question 99% of trans teens ask me is ‘how could anyone ever love me?’ Because all they see is hate & fear. #tdov
— Fox Benwell (@ThisFoxWrites) March 31, 2017
Also Happy #TDoV because w/out Trans/NB folks in/creating media, I would not have known it was a thing. Used to be "I'm Gay but not Happy?"
— Harry-Anne 🏳️⚧️🇵🇸 Stop The Killing (@MxHarryBentley) March 31, 2017
https://twitter.com/rosetintworld/status/847779443523411968
Because arbitrary, socially constructed gender binaries have never adequately reflected the complex beauty that is humanity. #TDOV https://t.co/iXRu8agXbI
— Nathan Anderson (@NathanAnderson5) March 31, 2017
https://twitter.com/MagsVisaggs/status/847819211640590336
at a time when trans people are under attack bc society views us as monsters, days like #tdov are important to remember how lovely we are
— liv bruce (@dirtywaternymph) March 31, 2017
https://twitter.com/tmetcalfe/status/847840669573840897
https://twitter.com/Vivien_JustJ/status/847843048587501569
Other Twitter users shared selfies celebrating their physical visibility and their own journeys regarding visibility and representation.
https://twitter.com/GatsbyLow/status/847554173063143424
https://twitter.com/indolentempire/status/847611857288306688
https://twitter.com/AtWelshRy/status/847702738494382083
https://twitter.com/bandaidknees/status/847754366836654081
https://twitter.com/choibjna/status/847861899693830145
https://twitter.com/felixryan_/status/847762581066567680
https://twitter.com/GageElle/status/847880783054254080
https://twitter.com/ohgbaker/status/847779734536585217
Because it's #TDOV and my surgery check up went well, here is an array of visibly stupid trans faces pic.twitter.com/CaEq4XWkzv
— Natalie Washington (@Transsomething) March 31, 2017
Y'all don't know how much I needed this 💕 #transdayofvisibility pic.twitter.com/GTTgcDkWeY
— Ethereal Angel ❀ (@angel_eterea) March 31, 2017
https://twitter.com/MxJackMonroe/status/847794652006711296
https://twitter.com/fakerapper/status/847804722148814848
a man 3.5 years in the making 💙 #tdov #tdov17 #transvisibilityday pic.twitter.com/JOLmpeiFdU
— isaiah! (@apathyart) March 31, 2017
happy tdov from ya local masc enby #transdayofvisibility pic.twitter.com/gs403tdYga
— nik (@nikkodakota) March 31, 2017
And many reminded us how transphobia makes visibility hard—and harmful —for trans people. Trans women, especially trans women of color, are more likely to be targets of hate crimes, and eight trans women have been murdered so far this year.
it would appear @jacobtobia has already nailed the discourse on this pic.twitter.com/D7wjXwtBys
— hari nef (@harinef) March 31, 2017
https://twitter.com/thejeffreymarsh/status/847789964263923712
being visible is not always cute & fun. i fear for my safety every time i leave the house. but i wouldn't trade who i am for anything. #tdov
— Tyler Ford (@tywrent) March 31, 2017
https://twitter.com/Iongviewing/status/847821792500731905
https://twitter.com/lesbianviktor/status/847834017781211136
if ur lookin forward to #TDOV and Being Visible u need 2 first reflect hard on how black trans women are dying bc of that same visibility
— bam ✿ (@Pup_Bamdin) March 31, 2017
I'm conflicted about #tdov bc visibility should be a good thing but it's the sheer hatred of trans people that makes it dangerous
— gimpl the fool (@frumslut) March 31, 2017
But to acknowledge transphobia isn’t to say that a day of trans visibility is something to be discouraged. By sharing trans people’s stories, educating people unfamiliar with trans issues, and elevating trans voices, advocates hope to confront misinformation and negative, inaccurate stereotypes that contribute to transphobia.
https://twitter.com/EmmaVicky82/status/847750501814816768