Wednesday, March 31 is the International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV). This annual celebration is dedicated to supporting the transgender community. It aims to bring attention to the accomplishments of transgender and gender non-conforming people around the world, while also raising awareness of the work that still needs to be done to end the discrimination that trans people face. This day was founded by a transgender activist named Rachel Crandall in 2009 as a reaction to the lack of recognition for transgender people in the LGBTQ+ community. Unlike the Transgender Day of Remembrance, TDOV is not a day of mourning. Instead, it is a day of empowerment. 

In honor of TDOV, those who are able may want to donate to organizations which work to defend the rights and provide for the needs of transgender people—especially Black trans women—who, on average, face the most violence and discrimination on the basis of their intersecting identities.  A list of organizations to support can be found here.

Another way to support transgender people on TDOV and everyday is to uplift the voices of trans people and be supportive of the trans people in your life. Two good sources of information on how to be an ally to the trans people in your life can be found on GLAAD and The Trevor Project.

At the Shabbat service on Friday, April 2, join together as we shed a light on International Transgender Day of Visibility.