Transgender Day of Visibility
31 March 2021
The 12th annual International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDoV) takes place on 31 March 2021.
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board Employees who are members of the recently-relaunched LGBTQ+ Staff Network are highlighting the event to colleagues and the wider community.
The event celebrates the resilience and success of transgender and gender non-conforming people and raises awareness of transgender rights around the world. This is just as important now as ever, as 2020 was the most harmful year on record for the trans community but the issue remains underreported.
In the UK, transphobia is a growing issue with reports of transphobic hate crimes having quadrupled since 2015. According to Galop, one in four trans people have been threatened with or experienced transphobic violence. One in three UK employers will not employ a trans person and almost half of trans people have a suicide attempt in their past (Pink News 2021).
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to increasing numbers of trans people being trapped at home, often in unsupportive environments.
How can you help?
The LGBTQ+ Staff Network has identified trans documentaries and trans stories that people can engage with to improve their understanding of trans issues:
Watch
- Meet Young Non-Binary Australians Who Don’t Identify as Male or Female
- Gender Diversity and Identity in Queertopia
- I Am They: A Non-binary Transgender Love Story
- Laverne Cox Presents the T Word.
- My Genderation films
- Disclosure
Read
- Transgender Health by Ben Vincent
- Understanding Trans Health by Dr Ruth Pearce
- Trans Britain by Christine Burns
- Non-binary Genders by Ben Vincent
- Working with transgender young people and their families by DW Riggs
- Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters
Other options for showing your support include donating time, money or resources to services working for trans people, which could locally include supporting the Cardiff & Vale Health Charity’s LGBTQ+ fund.
You can also take action to be an ally to trans and non-binary people. That could include adding your pronouns to your email signature, helping to highlight the importance of pronouns and the impact of using them correctly.
Shannon Bakan, Service Manager for the Welsh Gender Service, said: “Trans day of visibility is an opportunity to celebrate the beauty and vitality of the trans community, while also taking the time to stop and contemplate the past year; a year that has been filled with progressive developments as well as pain and distress as a result of the impact of the pandemic on trans communities.
“We should be celebrating transgender people and raising awareness of the discrimination they face everywhere, not just today, but every day.
On Trans Day of Visibility and every day, we continue to stand in solidarity with the trans community and celebrate each and every trans person who is brave enough to live their individual authentic lives. If you are struggling during these unprecedented times, please reach out to the Welsh Gender Service or Umbrella Cymru for support. We are here for everyone through it all; anytime and all the time- not just when someone is in trouble.”
Ruth Walker, Executive Nurse Director and Executive Sponsor for Trans issues, said: “Trans Day of Visibility is an annual event celebrating trans and non-binary people and raising awareness of the hardships that trans people can often face. We will be flying the trans flag at the University Hospital of Wales to recognise this day and celebrate the diversity that trans staff bring to our workplace,.
“Each trans individual’s experience is unique, and it is important to ensure that trans voices are heard and amplified. Within the Health Board, I am excited to support the recently relaunched LGBTQ+ Staff Network, which will work to foster a culture where everyone can bring their authentic selves to work.”
The LGBTQ+ Network was relaunched in February 2021, to provide support and guidance for any LGBTQ+ member of staff, while also working closely with the organisation to create an inclusive workplace for all.
The LGBT+ Network is looking to recruit colleagues from trans, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities to its committee to ensure its work is representative of these groups. If you are interested, please get in touch with Rhiannon.Owen4@wales.nhs.uk.