The transgender community and its supporters throughout the state have been making preparations to recognize the Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31, with some events having already taken place and others still planned around the day.
Advocacy groups, including the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice, the Transgender Rights Coalition of New Jersey, and Garden State Equality, have made statements in support of the day, planned events, and done outreach to educate the public about a minority group that is often misunderstood and demonized.
TRC-NJ said it reached out to municipalities across the state and urged them to pass resolutions in March to commemorate and recognize the day and showcase on social media the trans community’s wins, resilience and support. Organization members attended municipal meetings, made phone calls, and sent emails.
“It is a truly meaningful statement to recognize Transgender Day of Visibility. Given all that is currently going on in the federal government, in statehouses across the country, and even in other municipalities here in New Jersey, it demonstrates clearly that these towns believe in freedom for everyone and will stand up for all of us. And I do mean ‘all of us.’ We know from history that when they go after any one marginalized community, they will come for all of us,” said Melissa Firstenberg, a trans woman and TRC-NJ member.
The BRCSJ has planned “a community-centered celebration” of trans and nonbinary individuals. The event, the BRCSJ Sounds of Acceptance, is scheduled to take place from 6 to 8 p.m. April 4 at the center, located at 12 Stockton St. in Princeton. Trans and nonbinary participants will have the opportunity to sing, perform music and read poetry. Everyone “across the rainbow spectrum” is invited, according to the organization, and free refreshments will be provided.
“This event will spotlight trans joy, creativity, & resilience as we share our experiences with empathy to empower all of us!” BRCSJ Chief Activist Robt Martin Seda-Schreiber said in an email.
The performances, according to the organization, will serve as dedicated expressions of kindness and humanity and will demonstrate the power of music and poetry as outlets for advocacy, visibility, empathy and community-building.
Attendance is free, but clothing donations for a future gender-affirming clothing drive are strongly suggested and very much appreciated, according to the organization.
In the days leading up to the TDoV, GSE planned “a series of community-centered events that prioritize healing, joy, and access” such as one called “Glow Up & Show Up” on March 26 in conjunction with the Newark LGBTQ Community Center, the Intercultural Resource Center at Rutgers University-Newark, and the New Jersey Community Research Initiative’s Project TEA (Trans Empowerment in Action). The event’s planned activities included free, affirming haircuts, gender-affirming garments, hygiene/makeup resources, and the opportunity to connect with local organizations.
GSE held an event dedicated to mindfulness and support for trans community members in recovery from substance abuse on March 27 called “Visible and Healing” in Roselle. It also held a March 28 “TGD+ Coffee Social” in Montclair to create a space for community building and conversation.
“Together, these events reflect our commitment to not only visibility but to building spaces where trans people can be supported, resourced, and celebrated,” Damien Alan Lopez, GSE director of trans resiliency, said in an email.
TRC-NJ provided a list of the municipalities it contacted this year; all said they would recognize the day, according to the organization. (This is not a complete list of the municipalities that chose to recognize the day.)
- Evesham Township, Burlington County
- Gloucester City, Camden County
- Maple Shade Township, Burlington County
- Maplewood Township, Essex County
- Mt. Laurel Township, Burlington County
- South Orange, Essex County
- Voorhees Township, Camden County
- Wenoah, Gloucester County
Firstenberg said people may be asking why visibility even matters and answered that question by pointing out that over the past year “there has been an onslaught of anti-transgender propaganda.”
“We have seen abusive executive orders and hate-filled proposed legislation at the federal level. We are witnessing the systematic removal of human rights of people who are transgender in other states. These succeed in creating hate because the population of transgender people is so small,” Firstenberg said.
For most of the people she meets, Firstenberg continued, she is the first trans person with whom they have ever interacted, and that’s likely true for many in the trans community.
“This is how we combat hatred and bigotry – with visibility, civil discourse, education, and community,” Firstenberg said, adding the goals in celebrating the day are simple.
The day is held to celebrate the contributions and achievements of trans people; to combat transphobia, stigma, and anti-trans violence; to combat disinformation and hate; to raise awareness of the need to end discrimination and violence; and to ensure positive representations of the transgender community.
Seda-Schreiber said the day “is a powerful reminder for us all to celebrate the robust, unique, & beautifully diverse community who are threatened on a daily basis during these tender times.”
“As we face an even more fraught future for our LGBTQIIA+ youth, families, & seniors, our Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice serves as a radiant glimmer in these dark days, being open every day as a quintessential queer safe-space,” he said.
Lopez said the day is both a celebration and a reminder of what’s still at stake.
“It’s a day to honor the resiliency, accomplishments, and strengths of transgender, nonbinary, and gender diverse people. However, we still need to be honest about the reality that, across this country, being seen is becoming more difficult and more dangerous,” Lopez said, citing legislation and policy decisions across the country such as the invalidation of driver’s licenses for trans people by the state of Kansas and gender-affirming-care access restrictions and prohibitions in various states.
Lopez said that “these attacks are not abstract. They impact people’s ability to move through the world safely, access healthcare, and live with dignity. That’s why visibility is acknowledgment and action hand in hand. Here at Garden State Equality, we uplift services that allow education, preparedness, and moments of joy between the chaos.”
