International Transgender Day of Visibility

I’m writing this column on International Transgender Day of Visibility. Michigan’s own transgender activist, Rachel Crandall Crocker, founded TDoV in 2010. She wanted a day to celebrate the lives of transgender people as, unfortunately, news regarding transgender people is often focused on the negative: hate crimes, oppressive laws, and negative portrayals of people just trying to live their lives.

Unfortunately, bad transgender news seems to have only increased since 2010, with much of the news today reflecting the Republican anti-trans agenda.

I have written many columns about anti-trans creeps. So, instead of focusing attention on the negative, I’m using this column to uplift some transgender people you should be listening to in honor of TDoV.

Let’s start with Mercury Stardust, the Trans Handy Ma’am, who is, at the moment I am writing this, raising money for transgender care through her annual Stream-A-Thon for Trans Healthcare. She’s the author of Safe & Sound: A Renter-Friendly Guide to Home Repair and gives repair and maintenance advice to her millions of followers on Instagram, TikTok, and her Trans Handy Ma’am Hotline podcast. Her tagline is, “You’re worth the time it takes to learn a new skill,” and she will make you feel confident that you can repair drywall, unclog a drain, or fix a broken door with her by your side.

If you’re looking for excellent reporting on LGBTQ issues, look no further than Erin Reed. Her “Erin in the Morning” newsletter is a wealth of information on transgender legislation and life. She also maintains a map of every informed-consent hormone therapy clinic for trans people. Follow her on Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok.

If you’re into heavy metal and righteous anger, then you need to be following Alicia Cordisco, one of the best metal guitarists in the game. Her band Transgressive (which I am listening to as I write this) makes “politically charged thrash/death metal” that will make you want to take to the streets and punch a fascist in the face. I recommend the song “Bury Me In Rainbow Flags,” which calls out “fucking liberal traitors” who claim to be allies but don’t actually do a damn thing.

Recently on Bluesky, Cordisco posted, “I am visible as transgender, and as an activist because we are all forced to, and because in our current setting I choose to lean into that to fight how I can, but at the end of the day I just wish I could be some girl like any other.” I wish that for her, too. Follow her on Bluesky, Instagram, and YouTube.

If you’ve watched The L Word: Generation Q, then you’ve seen Leo Sheng (you also might have seen him in The Matrix Resurrections, but I have not seen that or the original Matrix movie). Sheng is an actor and activist, and his role as Micah on The L Word is a great example of why trans actors should be hired to play trans characters on TV and in movies. Sheng was adopted from China and raised by two moms in Michigan. He was pursuing a degree in social work at the University of Michigan when he got his first acting gig. Now, he lives in Los Angeles. On TDoV, he wrote on Threads, “If you’re not gonna fight to protect us and our right to exist, then at the very least leave us the fck alone.” Amen. Follow him on Instagram and Threads.

If you like to laugh as you fight for transgender rights, then you need to be following Chris McAllister, a “a transmasc, non-binary comedian on a mission.” They blew up on Instagram after posting a video discussing comments they get on their videos from people saying, “I can tell that you’re still a woman” or “I can tell that you’re still a man,” which prompted allies to write comments like “I can tell that you’re awesome” and “I can tell that you’re kind.” So McAllister decided to make #ICanTell a trans allyship movement, challenging people watching the video to “leave an #icantell comment on a trans friend’s post today.” In their online bio, McAllister says they believe comedy “has the power to break down barriers, dramatically change perspectives and open clammed up hearts.” Follow them on Instagram.

Transgender athletes have been the focus of political posturing and outright hate lately, as Republicans claim that they must “save” women’s sports from transgender women. Athlete CeCé Telfer, the first openly transgender woman to win a NCAA title, knows this all too well. She recently told CNN Sport, “I’m Black, I’m a woman, I’m transgender, and I’m an athlete. Each of my identities is a target, especially in America.” Telfer is the author of Make It Count: My Fight to Become the First Transgender Olympic Runner and an outspoken advocate for transgender visibility and acceptance. Follow her on Instagram.