Thread by @19thnews

🧵Today is #TransDayOfVisibility.

Over a decade ago, Rachel Crandall-Crocker wanted a reason for transgender people to celebrate and come together. So she created one.

Millions of people now recognize March 31 as a day to celebrate trans people worldwide.bit.ly/39waZMi

It was 2009, and at the time, the only annual event that most trans communities had — Transgender Day of Remembrance — was nothing to celebrate.

#TDOR was born in 1998 after Rita Hester, a Black trans women in Boston, was murdered in her own apartment. bit.ly/39waZMi

Crandall-Crocker sometimes attended the community funeral. She felt it was important. But when she did, it left her depressed for up to a week afterward. bit.ly/39waZMi

So Crandall-Crocker, who had lost a marriage when she came out and a job as a psychotherapist when she transitioned, decided to create a day of celebration herself. bit.ly/39waZMi

🗓️ She set the date: March 31.

The date wasn’t significant as much as it was convenient. It was far enough away from Transgender Day of Remembrance in November and Pride Month in June that it wouldn’t conflict with either. bit.ly/39waZMi

From her home in Michigan, Crandall-Crocker organized a panel just outside of Detroit. Maybe people would come or see the Facebook post and hold their own events, she thought.

Crandall-Crocker now talks about those early days with near disbelief. bit.ly/39waZMi

“Transgender Day of Visibility is a spark of hope,” said Nia Clark, a Black trans woman.

“It’s just signaling to others that we are here and there are more than just one of you … that there are people in existence who, also, would just like you.” bit.ly/39waZMi

.@annapoetic, VP of the Minneapolis City Council and the first out Black trans elected official in the country, says conversations about trans people living vibrant and full lives are critical.

She notes that 44 trans people were murdered in 2020. bit.ly/39waZMi

#TransDayOfVisibility2021 comes at a particularly trying moment for gender diverse people. More than 80 anti-trans bills are pending in U.S. state legislatures.

Most bills would limit trans youth from playing sports and accessing affirming medical care. bit.ly/39tDE4u

For many trans kids, their first introduction to the transgender community had long been a day honoring transgender murder victims.

But Transgender Day of Visibility gave kids another narrative to grow into, advocates say. bit.ly/39waZMi

Esmée Silverman is a high school senior in Massachusetts, the same state where Hester’s murder inspired Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Still, she learned about Transgender Day of Visibility before she knew of the day’s more somber cousin. bit.ly/39waZMi

“I sort of was just like, ‘Wow, this is something that we need to uplift and celebrate more of because if there’s a day like this and if other trans people feel like the way I felt when I didn’t have any support, then this day needs to be uplifted,’” Silverman said.

“Everybody deserves to be visible, including trans people,” Silverman said.

More from @shoeleatherkate: bit.ly/39waZMi