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Trans Day of Visibility Has International Impact

AJ TRAGER

FERNDALE — Since launching the event on March 31, 2009, Executive Director of Transgender Michigan Rachel Crandall is pleased to see that the Transgender Day of Visibility has truly gone international and will be celebrated in multiple countries around the world, including those where it is illegal to be LGBT.
TDoV was born out of a need for a positive celebration for the trans community. Crandall was frustrated because the only trans day of the year was the International Day of Remembrance, a day to recognize the brothers and sisters who were killed for being trans, and decided to create a day to celebrate who trans people are, what they've accomplished and what they can do.
"This just isn't a celebration — it's a powerhouse, a force, that is changing policy and law around the planet," Crandall told BTL. "I think it really shows people what we are all about. It really shows people that we are regular people and it is really all about our freedom."
Since TDoV last year, 17 countries in Europe have signed a declaration of intent on the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia held May 17 to improve LGBT rights in Europe, calling for quick, accessible and transparent gender recognition procedures. The European Transgender Network continued to work with activists and policy makers across the region to progress towards improving gender recognition legislation in Slovenia, Lithuania, Greece, the Czech Republic and Malta.
The World Health Organization issued a report condemning forced sterilization of trans people.
Turkey saw its first transgender beauty pageant in Istanbul as part of a weeklong celebration of Pride.
The Kenyan high court ordered the National Examinations Council to change a trans activist's legal name on her academic certificates after the council failed to recognize her gender identity.
A Russian bill to ban trans individuals from driving failed to pass into law.
And in India, after a ruling by the Indian Supreme Court made changes to official documents allowing trans people to identify themselves, a census found that the country is home to half a million self-identified trans people. The country also, for the first time, elected an openly-trans candidate in a mayoral election and appointed the first trans news anchor.
"Visibility Day was such a breakthrough. It wasn't going to happen when the only transgender day was about people who were killed; people were not going to come out. However, once there was actually a designed day, I think it really gave people permission to come out and celebrate. I mean, I know so many people around the world who are coming out right on Visibility Day, or are having their operations right on Visibility Day. I think that's why it was a breakthrough," Crandall said.
She and the Transgender Michigan team are also very pleased to see the influx of allies participating in and learning about trans days of celebration and the trans community. Twenty years ago, Crandall explains, there was much less activity on the side of trans allies. Today, many allies are active in the fight for trans equality, with many of them helping to coordinate events and help spread the word on activist angles such as furthering trans healthcare services.

Local Events

For the next two months Affirmations will host a Trans Day of Visibility art show in the Pittmann-Puckett Gallery. Crandall says that the team is getting submissions from everywhere and is pleased that the works will be featured for the time leading up to Pride events in the summer. That gallery is free and open to the public.
The flagship event, an Open Mic Night held March 28 at Five15 in Royal Oak, is expected to see upwards of 50 attendees who will gather to watch many different performances by trans artists. The show begins at 6 p.m. at 515 S. Washington Ave.
On the Day of Visibility, Crandall will participate in a panel discussion at the Michigan Social Work Conference as an expert therapist, and will teach other therapists on how to work with trans clients.
Finally, on April 1 Crandall will host an evening meet and greet at the Grand Traverse Pie Co. in Lansing for people to become more acquainted with Transgender Michigan and learn how they can get involved. Grand Traverse Pie Company is located at 200 S. Washington Square.

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