“Today is the day to make sure that the trans community is visible for who they are and what we stand for. Today is the day to make sure that a trans person in your community feels seen and that their opinions and ideas are heard. Today is the day to make sure that the trans community is seen and most importantly heard in any level of legislation, especially if our rights are up for debate.”
Kiki (she/her), 14 yo Youth Voice from New Jersey
🏳️⚧️ Today is #TransDayofVisibility.
So, what exactly does that mean in a year when we've already been made VERY visible by lawmakers, school officials, and in the media? We asked around in our community. This year, it means...
🟣 Intentionally LISTENING to trans people (including trans youth) about our own personal stories, feelings, and experiences is so vital.
🟣 Allies need to stand UP and speak out alongside us - sometimes it's not safe for us to do so.
🟣 We need to engage with and share more trans content and uplift trans content creators to learn from each other and educate allies - we have amazing streamers weekly on our Twitch, tons of stories on Youtube, and a whole trans and nonbinary playlist on TikTok!
🟣 We need to share resources to support one another. We have an entire database of over 1,000 LGBTQ+ organizations on our Get Help page that you can filter by issue area and location, including a page just for trans and GNC people at itgetsbetter.org/gethelp. Save it for yourself and share with friends.
🟣 We're not going to stop celebrating trans joy...
🟣 And while we know hate is being projected by a vocal minority, there are still plenty of people who have our backs.
Hi :) Welcome to Vandalpark, the small, GenAI-free sticker business I’ll use to put out messages I wish the world would see a little more of. Shop launch is on Monday, May 11th at 11:00, and I can’t wait to get cracking and find my designs new homes on your various belongings across the Netherlands ~
I’ve got so many more stickers in the works and still more ideas, so if this sort of thing speaks to you, I’ll be posting each shop update here, but I’ll always respect your time and avoid spamming you (I’ll still remind you before launch so you’ll be the first to know!). This will be a relaxed corner of the Internet for chill browsing time - or just using the sticker designs as a little mood booster for your feed :)
I also have an email newsletter below with a maximum of one email per month if you’d like to be the first to hear about new designs and any offers.
If you have any questions, comments or requests, please use the contact form on my website once it launches on Monday; this is where I streamline what I’ll be reading instead of comments on each platform. Thank you for understanding <3
The history of transgender people is complex and varied, stretching back to ancient civilisations and continuing through to the present day. While there is no single narrative that can capture the full breadth of transgender experience, there are certain key moments and figures that have helped shape our understanding of gender identity and expression.
One of the earliest recorded examples of transgender identity comes from the ancient Sumerian civilisation in Mesopotamia, where priests and priestesses of the goddess Inanna would sometimes dress in clothing associated with the opposite sex and perform rituals that blurred traditional gender boundaries. In other cultures, such as the Native American tribes of the Two-Spirit tradition or the hijra communities of India, individuals who did not conform to traditional gender roles were often revered as having special spiritual or healing powers.
The modern concept of transgender identity emerged in the mid-20th century, when medical professionals began to recognise that some people experienced a persistent and distressing sense of incongruity between their gender identity and the sex they were assigned at birth. This led to the development of gender-affirming medical treatments such as hormone therapy and gender confirmation surgery.
One of the earliest known examples of gender-affirming medical treatment took place in Germany in the 1920s, when Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld established the Institute for Sexual Science in Berlin. The institute offered medical and psychological support to people who experienced gender dysphoria, as well as advocating for legal and social recognition of transgender identity.
Unfortunately, the institute was destroyed by the Nazis in 1933, and many of its patients and staff members were killed or forced into hiding. It was not until the 1950s and 60s that transgender identity began to be more widely recognized in Western medical and psychological circles, thanks in part to the pioneering work of researchers such as Dr. Harry Benjamin.
In 1952, Benjamin published "The Transsexual Phenomenon," which outlined a clinical framework for understanding and treating gender dysphoria. He argued that transgender people should be allowed to access medical interventions such as hormone therapy and gender confirmation surgery in order to align their bodies with their gender identity, and he helped establish the standards of care that are still used by many medical professionals today.
Throughout the 20th century, transgender people faced significant discrimination and marginalisation, particularly in the United States. Laws and social norms restricted their access to healthcare, education, employment, and other basic rights, and they were often subject to harassment and violence.
In the 1960s and 70s, however, transgender activists began to organise and advocate for their rights, paving the way for greater recognition and acceptance of transgender identity in the decades that followed. In 1975, for example, the first international conference on transgender rights was held in Atlanta, Georgia, bringing together activists from around the world to share their experiences and strategies.
Today, transgender people continue to face many challenges, including discrimination, violence, and lack of access to healthcare. However, there have also been significant gains in terms of legal protections and social acceptance, particularly in many Western countries. Transgender celebrities such as Laverne Cox and Caitlyn Jenner have helped to raise awareness and visibility of transgender issues, and many organisations and advocacy groups are working to promote transgender rights and equality.
The history of transgender people is one of resilience and resistance, as individuals and communities have fought to assert their identities and secure their rights. While there is still much work to be done, the progress that has been made in recent decades provides hope for a more inclusive and just future.
I don’t have a lot, because they’re your kids and you’ve been raising them just fine.
But always, always, always ask your kid the following questions before meeting their new friends and their friends’ families. (They make quite a few friends online in online communities and support groups)
1) What are their name and pronouns?
2) Do they like pizza?
3) Why not are they a monster?
4) they’re not going to give you a piercing in their bathroom are they?
5) are they out to their parents?
6) how are their parents handling it if they are?
7) are they safe if they are not out to their parents?
8) if they don’t feel safe, are they ok hanging out at our house all of the time?
9) I mean, ALL of the time?
10) seriously, the air mattress is going to be permanently installed in your room and I’m going to give them a key to the house, will they be ok with that?
11) I’m willing to overlook the whole pizza thing if they agree to pick me a flower or two, cool?
12) if their parents are cool, though, wtf are you guys always in MY house?!
On this year’s #TransDayofVisibility, we (cis & trans folks) must take action to defend #trans lives and rights across the US. Arkansas, South Dakota, and Alabama are all trying to pass laws that bans healthcare for trans youth, bans insurance coverage for all people, and bans trans women and girls from sports. #TDOV is a day of joy for the trans community, but we all need to contribute to these actions to protect #transkids and trans folks of all ages while engaging in our #transpride today (and all days). 🏳️⚧️🏳️⚧️🏳️⚧️🏳️⚧️🏳️⚧️🏳️⚧️ 🔊Tell @govasahutchinson to veto trans bills HB 1570 and SB354. 🔊Tell @govkristinoem to stop HB 1217. 🔊Tell @governorkayivey to veto HB1/SB10 and HB 391. 🔊Donate to @intransitive.ar, transadvocacysd.org, toksociety.com 🏳️⚧️🏳️⚧️🏳️⚧️🏳️⚧️🏳️⚧️🏳️⚧️🏳️⚧️🏳️⚧️🏳️⚧️🏳️⚧️#tdov2021 (at Transgender Support) https://www.instagram.com/p/CNFZ49lrXQa/?igshid=lgpw6430fkqi
