The Southern African Liaison Office

The Southern African Liaison Office

International liaison, dialogue and research.

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International Transgender Day of Visibility

SALO

31 March is International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV or Trans Day of Visibility) – a day that celebrates transgender people’s contributions to society and raises awareness of discrimination encountered by transgender people globally. A transgender activist, Rachel Crandall of Michigan, founded the day in 2009 as a response to the lack of LGBTQIA+ recognition for transgender people, citing the frustration that the only transgender-centred day was known as the Transgender Day of Remembrance, which mourned the murders of transgender people but failed to acknowledge and celebrate living transgender people.

The purpose of the day is to encourage people to refocus their attention on celebrating the lives of people who identify as transgender, empowering them to live authentically, while at the same time acknowledging the fact that not every trans person can or wishes to be visible due to discrimination.

Transgender representation

This day emphasises the importance of transgender representation worldwide, particularly in light of the dangers faced daily by transgender individuals and those who identify as gender nonconforming. As per a Gallup poll, 11.3 percent of LGBTQIA+ adults identify as transgender in the United States of America; however, according to media advocacy organisation GLAAD, there are only 29 transgender characters in prime-time broadcasts, cable shows, and streaming originals. The GLAAD Studio Responsibility Index also reported that there were no transgender characters in a significant film for the third consecutive year.

In the news media, trans people’s voices are frequently missing – from coverage of anti-trans laws and policies that affect them. As a result of the lack of trans representation in newsrooms and the lack of trans people weighing in, anti-trans discrimination often appears in the news as a “culture clash” and “just asking questions” rather than as willful misinformation and targeted violence.

There have been over 400 anti-LGBTQIA+ bills filed in 2023 globally, with over half specifically targeting transgender people. Both 2021 and 2022 saw a significant increase in anti-trans legislation.