Your allyship is needed now more than ever to ensure the safety of trans individuals.
What is TDOV?
First held on March 31, 2009, International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) is an annual event that both celebrates trans people as well as raises awareness about the discrimination they continue to face.
It was founded by Rachel Crandall-Crocker, a Michigan-based psychotherapist specializing in transgender issues. When asked about what made her organize this day, she said:
"I was upset that the only day that we had was Transgender Day of Remembrance, because I tend to get really depressed on that day. I wanted a day when, rather than talking about those who passed away, we could talk about those of us who were alive. And I wanted a day that would bring together trans people from all over the world."
After coming out in 1997, Rachel was fired from her job. As a result, she founded Transgender Michigan with Susan Crocker, as there wasn’t a statewide transgender organization at the time. She currently runs the Transgender Michigan help line, which was the first transgender help line in the US.
Beyond the Gender Binary
Cisgender: Someone who identifies with the gender they were assigned at birth.
Transgender: Someone who does not identify with the gender that they were assigned at birth.
Ex. Someone who was assigned female at birth (AFAB) who grows up to identify as a trans man, or someone who was assigned male at birth (AMAB) who grows up to identify as a trans woman.
Non-Binary: Someone who does not identify within the gender binary - their gender identity isn't exclusively male or female. It may mean identifying as a combination of genders or even feeling a complete lack of a gender. Although this identity falls under the trans umbrella, not all non-binary people will identify as trans.
Two-Spirit (2S): Term exclusive to Indigenous peoples that describes people who who embody diverse sexualities, gender identities, roles and/or expressions. Coined by Anishinaabe Elder Myra Laramee in Winnipeg in 1990, but the identity has ancient roots.
Debunking Common Misconceptions
There is not one way to transition, nor is there any way that makes anyone more or less valid - it's a journey
People may transition medically, socially, legally, etc
Detransitioning happens, but usually not for the reasons you think
The largest U.S. study exploring detransitioning cited the most common reasons were pressure from a parent (36%), transitioning was too hard (33%), too much harassment or discrimination (31%), and trouble getting a job (29%)
Pronouns ≠ gender - not all non-binary people use they/them pronouns, and someone using they/them pronouns does not necessarily mean that they identify as non-binary
And reminder that non-binary people don't owe you androgyny
Sex and gender are not the same thing
Your sex refers to the genitalia you were born with
However, infants are then assigned as male or female at birth based on their genitalia, when gender is a social construct (related to how we see ourselves) and may not align with the one you were assigned at birth
Sexuality is a whole other separate aspect of one's identity
Intersex describes people born with sex traits that do not fit binary medical definitions of male or female sexual or reproductive anatomy, but they can be any gender or sexual orientation (they can also be trans, but again, sex and gender are not the same)
Drag queens are not all trans (though some are)
Gender identity and gender expression are not the same thing
You can refuse to conform to gender norms and be cis
"TERFs" are not feminists. Period.
The failure of TERFs to understand trans people doesn't make trans people any less valid; despite what they say, the science is not on the side of TERFs
Additionally, more rights for trans people does not mean less rights for cis women, in fact, it's the opposite!
Transgender is not a third gender
Trans and cis are just adjectives - a trans woman is a woman and a trans man is a man
Being trans is not a mental illness
In the DSM-5, the American Psychiatric Association changed “gender identity disorder” in favour of “gender dysphoria”
Major medical organizations agree that letting someone transition without social stigma is the main treatment for gender dysphoria
In this way, being trans isn’t the medical condition, living as trans is the treatment to the medical condition
Note: Transition will mean different things at different ages, so for kids, that may be as simple as using their pronouns and letting them dress in a way that makes them comfortable
Both cis and trans people access gender affirming care
Breast augmentation, hormone replacement, puberty blockers, and other surgeries are used by people of all gender identities
Trans/Non-Binary Canadians You Should Know
Jamie Lee Hamilton (1955-2019)
Trans woman of Metis and Cree heritage, advocate for sex workers, the trans community, and missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls
First youth in Canada to be treated for "gender identity disorder"
In running for Vancouver City Council in 1996, she became the first transgender person to run for public office anywhere in Canada
Aiyyana Maracle (1950-2016)
Haudenosaunee trans woman, artist, performer, storyteller, and educator
Her art focused on the decolonization of gender to bring awareness to Indigenous views of gender
First Indigenous person to be awarded the John Hirsch Prize in 1997, a national award for the most artistically exciting new director in Canadian theatre
Rupert Raj (1952-)
Trans man who founded various trans organizations and publications, started the first Canadian organization on behalf of trans people in 1978
Former psychotherapist who dedicated his career to clinical research, counselling, and advocacy for trans people
Cicely Belle Blain (pronouns: they/them)
Black, mixed, queer, non-binary femme writer and activist
Advocates for greater inclusion of Black individuals within Pride, as they noted that it is often only white LGBTQ+ figures that are centered, in history as well
Co-founded BLM Vancouver, founded Bakau Consulting
Julie Lemieux (pronouns: she/her)
Canada's first openly transgender mayor, elected in 2017 in the small village of Très-Saint-Redempteur, Quebec, near the Ontario border
She is also the first woman to be elected mayor in the town's 136-year history
Fae Johnstone (pronouns: she/they)
Trans woman and award-winning 2SLGBTQ+ and trans advocate
Current Executive Director and Co-Owner of Wisdom2Action (W2A), a 2SLGBTQ+ owned and operated consultancy firm
They were recently part of a Hershey Canada campaign for International Women's Day!
Embracing Inclusivity
Introduce yourself to new people using your pronouns and/or include them in your social media bios to normalize this
But also acknowledge the fact that someone not having their pronouns in their bio doesn't mean they're not an ally, they may still be figuring it out themselves, or not feel safe enough to come out yet
If you don't know someone's pronouns, use they/them initially
If you accidentally call someone the wrong name or misgender someone and are corrected, don't make a big deal about it, just correct yourself and move on
There's no need to center yourself and your feelings here
If someone uses she/they or he/they pronouns, don't stress about using each pronoun exactly 50% of the time, just don't exclusively use one of them
Just because someone has come out to you as trans, it doesn't mean they're out to the rest of the world, so make sure not to out anyone, regardless of how well you think they're passing or not
Commit to learning and using proper language
Someone wasn't "born a man," they were assigned male at birth
Someone didn't "change genders," they transitioned; they only changed the presentation of their gender
Accounts to Follow (Instagram)
Action Items
Canada
Sign the petition calling upon the House of Commons to extend trans people the right to claim asylum in Canada by reason of eliminationist laws in their home countries
petitions.ourcommons.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-4268
Canada isn't perfect, we must ensure trans people are being listened to and acknowledged when it comes to legislation
Talk to your City Councillor, MPP, and MP about how they plan to support trans people, whether it's about access to gender-affirming healthcare, tackling rising hate and misinformation, or supporting trans inclusive education
U.S.
Track bills by state and act accordingly
www.aclu.org/legislative-attacks-on-lgbtq-rights
www.tracktranslegislation.com/
https://www.pinkmantaray.com/resources/transbills
Contact lawmakers to tell them you oppose harmful bills
Ex. Tell your congressional representative that you oppose HR 734 (would federally ban trans and intersex girls and women from participating in sports)
Spread the word about www.walkout2learn.org/ (April 21st!)
Attend a workshop to expand your knowledge
Reminder: You don't have to understand every aspect of someone's identity to treat them with respect! |
References
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