Today, March 31st, is the annual International Transgender Day of Visibility. Today we talk about the power of being visible; the freedom that comes when one is allowed to be who they truly are in all areas of life without fear of reprimand or recourse. We also recognize the pioneers and every-day heroes in the transgender community – those who stand up, speak out, and advocate for the fair treatment of everyone – transgender and cisgender alike.
In the last year, there have been many strides towards gender equality for transgender people around the world:
- The year started off with the Affordable Care Act in the United States, which specifically prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity, making it possible for transgender Americans to finally receive insurance for transition-related medical care.
- In April, the U.S. Department of Education granted Title IX protections to transgender students, declaring that students cannot be discriminated against based on their gender identity or gender expression under federal law.
- In India, also in April, in a landmark judgment in National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) v. Union of India and Others, the Indian Supreme Court ruled that transgender people should be recognized as a third gender and not only enjoy all fundamental rights, but also receive special benefits in education and jobs.
- In July the U.S. Labor Department extended nondiscrimination protections to its transgender employees. Followed later in by President Obama signing Executive Order 13672 which added gender identity as a protected class against discrimination for all federal employees.
- In August, Mill’s College (Oakland, CA) became the first single-sex college in the United States to adopt a policy that explicitly welcomes any self-identified women to apply for enrollment.
- In January, Madhu Bai Kinnar, a transgender woman from the lowest caste in India, was elected mayor of Raigarh, making her the first openly transgender mayor in the country’s history.
- Earlier this month, the Swedish Academy announced that the upcoming edition of Sweden’s official dictionary will contain a new gender-neutral pronoun (“hen”). This is a huge step for all transgender people globally as Sweden leads the way for inclusion at the linguistic level.
How can you help celebrate?
- Go to a local Transgender Day of Visibility Event
There are TDoV events all around the world. Check out their Facebook Page for more information and to find an event near you.
- Learn about transgender history
Delving into transgender history, it doesn’t take long to realize that transgender individuals have been making waves for not just decades but for centuries. Names like Jennie June, Billy Tipton, Christine Jorgensen, Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Renee Richards, Chaz Bono, Lana Wachowski, Janet Mock, and Laverne Cox come to mind as pioneers and great leaders in our community. There’s a history of transgender visibility on GLAAD’s website.
- Educate yourself about what it means to be transgender
Much of the discrimination the transgender community faces stems from ignorance. As humans we often fear the unknown or what we don’t understand. Much of the work transgender activists do is focused on spreading education on the topic of what it means to be transgender. Demystifying the trans* experience is a huge step in the process towards achieving real progressive change. You can do your part by educating yourself. If you need help, start with GLAAD’s Transgender 101 resource.
- Reach out to a transgender person in your life and thank them for being visible
Sometimes the best way to celebrate a day like today is to simply say thank to the trans* people in your life who are out and visible. The more visible the community is, the more progress is made towards equality.
All the achievements made in this past year are directly due to the transgender individuals who spoke up, spoke out, and demanded to be heard. It takes an incredible amount of courage to be out and visible in a time where there is so much hate and violence still directed at the transgender population. Here at Symantec we value diversity through honoring our individual differences, recognizing that without diversity there is no innovation. Today we hope you will join us in celebrating the awareness and freedom that visibility brings.
Cass Averill is Symantec's Training Czar - Symantec Endpoint Protection. Read his personal transition story.