International Transgender Day of Visibility.
Today, March 31, 2022, is known internationally as the Transgender Day of Visibility. This is a time to celebrate trans men, women, and the nonbinary folks in between – recognizing that these individuals represent a true testament of resilience. On a national platform, President Joe Biden issued a proclamation today recognizing the importance of this holiday, helping to shine some light on the current crisis transgender and nonbinary individuals, as well as their loved ones, are currently facing.
Recent Progress for LGBTQ+ Americans.
In the United States in the last few decades, there has been significant progress for LGBTQ+ Americans to experience more equal access to the freedoms experienced by their cisgender and heterosexual peers.
A few highlights include:
In 2003, the Supreme Court issued a ruling in Lawrence v Texas that struck down state statues that made certain intimate sexual behaviors between two consenting, same-sex adults illegal.
President Obama signed legislation in 2009 that was passed by congress known as the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which added gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability to the federal hate crimes law.
Marriage Equality was passed in 2015.
Even as recently as 2020, the decision in Bostock vs. Clayton County extended the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to provide protection for LGBTQ+ Americans in their employment on a federal level.
Looming Threats.
There is still a lot of room to grow, but it is worth celebrating the many positive changes resulting from the diligent advocacy efforts by the queer community and their allies. Since the 2020 election, however, anti-trans bills have been hitting the floors in states around the nation that are a slap in the face to the progress that has been achieved. The Human Rights Campaign has been tracking over 583+ pieces of potential LGBTQ+-related legislation that is damaging and dangerous.
On TikTok yesterday, I came across a transgender teen on my FYP who was from Texas. He was expressing the real fear he is currently going through. The gender clinic that has been providing him with Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) was shut down by Texas officials. He expressed panic about what could happen to his parents if more people were aware of their support in him accessing gender-affirming care. Texas’ Governor Greg Abbott (R) has not just advocated for the restriction of access to these types of treatments to trans youth, but is advising that gender-affirming care constitutes child abuse under state law and there has been some efforts by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate these cases.
In the state of Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis (R) signed the Parental Rights in Education bill, more colloquially known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which censors the ability of educators in grades K through 3 in teaching about sexual orientation or gender identity. This bill also is undermining existing protections for LGBTQ+ students.
These bills, and many others, appear to be a coordinated national effort designed to erode the protections of LGBTQ+ Americans and to increase marginalization of these communities.
Taking Action as an Ally.
If you have a loved one that is transgender or nonbinary and you are wondering how you can be supportive, there are many things you can do.
Check in on your Trans friends – you don’t need to be obvious, but see how they are doing.
Listen to youth when they say they are afraid, and offer them comfort and support.
If someone talked to you about their gender identity or sexuality, please do not share this information with others without the consent of the person who shared this important information with you. When someone makes a disclosure, you may be thinking it would be a good idea to inform your family and friends so that they can begin to use the correct pronouns, for example. Please don’t share somebody’s story for them.
Be accountable. Don’t dismiss another person’s experience, justify your behavior, or defend your intentions. Intention is not the same as impact. The best apology is one that doesn’t make excuses.
Consider donating to trans youth who are in need of financial assistance or an organization that provides and advocates for gender-affirming care.
For more information on how to be a good ally for transgender and nonbinary individuals, check out this guide produced by GLAAD.