Since its inception in 2009, Transgender Day of Visibility – which occurs every year on 31 March – has been a focus point for greater awareness of the challenges faced by transgender people in the United States, as well as a celebration of the community’s strength and diversity. In 2015, for instance, a selfie campaign via social media caught on, drawing in trans celebrities and leading to heightened awareness and understanding of trans people. In 2021, it reached a milestone, as Joe Biden became the first US president to formally recognize the day.
This year, Transgender Day of Visibility falls amid a widespread campaign against the rights of transgender people – with nearly 500 anti-trans bills advanced in 2024 alone, following up on hundreds more bills in previous years, trans people in America now find themselves with restricted access to things like medically necessary healthcare, the ability to participate in sports, the use of crisis shelters, bathrooms, and other essential facilities, and even the right to have proper identification. These actions have led to internal refugees throughout America, with trans people fleeing hostile states for safer ones.
