Trans Day of Visibility

As headlines across the world are increasingly covering the legislation used to suppress and roll back the rights of trans, gender non-binary, and queer individuals, it is more important than ever for the global community to acknowledge these atrocities and become informed about ways to partner with allies, advocates, and members of the trans, gender non-binary, and queer communities to thwart such attacks on civil rights and basic human dignities. On March 31, celebrate International Trans Visibility Day by educating yourself about the rights that are at risk of being sequestered away and what you can do to help inform yourself and others about ways to both celebrate these marginalized communities and stand up for their rights.

In Canada alone, several legislative policies have passed or are currently under consideration by provincial governments to roll back trans rights. In Alberta, Bills 26, 27, and 29 seek to roll back trans rights in several ways. Provincial Bill 26, which received royal assent in Alberta but has not been proclaimed due to a court injunction, prevents doctors from providing gender-affirming care to youth under the age of 16. This bill aims to take away vital services from trans youth such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy.

Alberta’s Bill 27 seeks to require schools to get permission from parents or legal guardians for sex education curriculum, which would essentially serve as a de facto sex ed ban since all students are normally enrolled in this vital education and previously did not require parental consent to be opted into being taught the curriculum. The curriculum teaches about essential health information including knowledge of the human body, consent, reproduction, how to prevent disease transmission, human sexuality, gender identity, and sexual orientation. The bill would also require schools to share information about a student’s chosen name or pronouns if they are under 18, which could have life-threatening consequences if students live in unsafe or unsupportive transphobic or homophobic home environments.

Bill 29 in Alberta aims to prevent transgender athletes from competing in female sports divisions. In Saskatchewan, there has been a policy proposed implementing a changing room ban on trans youth. There are also talks amongst conservative politicians at the federal level to limit transgender health care for minors.

In the United States, there are currently hundreds of anti-trans bills across almost every state in the country. This has created an unprecedented attack on the trans community. These bills target basic rights such as the right to receive legal recognition and protection, healthcare, education, dress codes, drag and theatrical performances, the ability to play sports, and even the right to publicly exist. Through a recent executive order by the Trump administration, only two genders will now be recognized by the federal government. This will have the chilling effect of making gender unchangeable on government-issued documents despite one’s gender identity, in addition to a slew of additional detrimental consequences on the lives of trans and gender non-binary people. These discriminatory actions will not only impact the trans, non-binary, and queer communities but will also impact broader society, creating false ideas about gender and gender identity that are not supported by science and evidence-based research.

Several executive orders from the previous Biden administration have also been rolled back by Trump’s administration. The Biden-era executive orders that were rolled back combated discrimination and harassment of the trans and queer community. Furthermore, the effects of the Trump administration’s transphobic and antigay policies have had devastating effects on the lives of so many in the trans and queer community. According to the Trevor Project, a leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, the first of its kind peer-reviewed study, anti-transgender laws increased suicide attempts amongst transgender and non-binary youth by up to 72%.

Around the world, several countries criminalize gender expression and the gender identity of trans and non-binary individuals. For instance, in the countries of Brunei, Indonesia, Lebanon, Malaysia, Myanmar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, Malawi, Nigeria, South Sudan, and Gambia the gender expression of trans people is criminalized.

Considering the human rights abuses currently underway through the implementation and enforcement of such draconian anti-trans laws in some countries, and in addition to the attempted passing of such discriminatory and transphobic laws in other countries, it is more important than ever for the people of the world to inform themselves about what’s happening not only in their own countries but globally too. Educating oneself about the current transphobic landscape is a wonderful first step in learning ways to get involved to help advocate for the trans, non-binary and queer communities.

Furthermore, take the time on March 31st to celebrate Trans Visibility Day by honouring the trans, gender non-binary, and queer people in your life and your communities. Spread a message of love to these communities and offer support and advocacy to help restore their rights, freedom to exist without fear of punishment or harassment and threats, dignity, and joy for having the courage to live authentically and proudly.

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