Last Thursday, people across the world gathered at community events, virtual seminars, communal spaces or meditated in private to collectively observe the annual Trans Day of Visibility. People took time to reflect on the contributions that transgender and gender-nonconforming people have made to the world while also shining a light on transphobic violence and related injustices.
As I write this, I am reflecting on my experiences of being a formerly incarcerated, Black trans woman in the city of Chicago while mourning the recent deaths of Elise Malary and Tatiana “Tee Tee’' Labelle. To live in a world that continues to refuse to confront and acknowledge the harm that is being done to Black trans women is one of the biggest challenges in my life. It is disheartening to live in a world in which our safety is threatened by transphobia and anti-Black violence.
On Trans Day of Visibility, I had conversations with other trans and gender-nonconforming people in my community about what this day means to us. While many celebrated the accomplishments of trans and gender-nonconforming people across the world and spoke to how important our visibility is, others find it challenging to navigate these conversations.
