Today, March 31, marks International Transgender Day of Visibility, a day to celebrate our transgender and gender diverse friends, family, and community members. Founded by transgender activist Rachel Crandall in 2009, Transgender Day of Visibility was created to highlight the many contributions transgender people have made to society and emphasize the continued fight for transgender rights around the globe.
Crandall founded Transgender Day of Visibility because, until then, the only internationally recognized event centered on the transgender community was the Transgender Day of Remembrance. While that day remains an incredibly important yearly observance, it is focused on remembering the victims of transphobic violence. Crandall rightfully believed that too often, the stories of transgender and gender diverse people are only told in the context of hate crime reports.
This day stands as a celebration of a vibrant transgender community that continues to thrive, grow, and advocate for their rights. Transgender folks have made incredible strides in recent years, breaking down barriers in the worlds of television, film, theatre, politics, sports, business, and so much more.
Here at Fenway Health, our transgender and gender diverse staff members do incredible work across our many programs and services, and our transgender and gender diverse patients and clients are beloved members of our Fenway family.
While there is still much work to be done here and abroad to end discrimination against transgender people, let us take a moment to reflect on and honor the amazing, hard fought victories won so far. And then, let us recommit to fighting for the rights of our transgender community, today and every day. We’d also like to thank our Fenway Health staff for helping build an inclusive and welcoming community for all!
Want to receive email updates about what’s happening at Fenway Health? Sign up here.