Trans Day of Visibility: 2021
Here we are again, March 31, International Transgender Day of Visibility: 2021 edition. The purpose of this day is to celebrate the accomplishments of transgender folks worldwide while also creating awareness of the work we still have to do to create equity and equality for all transgender individuals.
In January, transgender people in the United States let out a collective sigh. Before he ever even took his oath, President Joe Biden nominated Rachel Levine, MD as Assistant Health Secretary of the United States. Within hours of taking Oath, he signed the Executive Order on Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation.
Five days later he overturned the Transgender Military Ban. In Argentina, Mara Gomez became the first transgender woman to play in a professional soccer game while at the same time their President signed a decree to add more transgender folks to the labor force. Progress is being made in many countries across the globe as we continue to fight for visibility, equality, and equity. But...
We hoped we could breathe, we hoped there would be change. But here we are in March and 2021 has become a record-breaking year for anti-transgender legislation. 82 Anti Transgender Bills have been introduced in the 2021 state legislative session. These include anti-trans medical bans and anti-trans-sports bans. 82 bills in over 20 states. 20 states where adults and children are experiencing daily messages of not being worthy of their rights, autonomy, access to healthcare, or access to activities that allow them to feel part of a group, connected to their bodies, confident, capable, and more. Yesterday, Arkansas became the first state to restrict access to medical treatments for trans children.
Why is this important to us as mental health professionals? Because we have a job to do, we have an obligation to stay informed, up to date, and to take action. To advocate where our clients may not be able to. No longer can social workers, counselors, therapists, and psychologists stand idly by. We cannot call ourselves allies or affirming and not also take the stance of being accomplices.
What can you do? I am glad you asked!
Take Action
Is your state currently voting on an anti-transgender bill? Take a day to lobby your lawmakers. Write and call your representatives and congresspeople. Ensure you include statements from your professional organizations that site the risks and harm these bills place on transgender youth and their families.
Donate
Do you have the financial privilege that many transgender folks do not have? Funnel your money into causes that support us. In light of the political actions happening across our country organizations such as the ACLU, TLDEF, and the National Center for Transgender Equality are all actively working at the state and federal level to support equal rights for transgender people. You can also donate to other causes that support us such as Point of Pride an international organization that provides financial aid and other supports for transgender people. In the area of behavioral health, The Trevor Project and Trans Lifeline save lives every single day. Gender Spectrum creates inclusive environments for teens while the Trans Women of Color Alliance works towards collective liberation for all oppressed people.
Learn From Us
Are you currently treating transgender folks? Learn from transgender people about transgender people. While there are plenty of courses and opportunities out there to learn about us so many are conducted by cisgender folks claiming to be experts. How can you be an expert on something when the system you learned it in is based on cis-sexist values and reinforces gatekeeping. Take time to learn from trained psychologists and therapists who have a balance of lived experience and academic knowledge. In addition to Modern Path’s online learning opportunities, there are excellent folks such as The Transgender Training Institue, The Gender Education Network, and the Gender Health Training Institute.
Center transgender therapists in your referral and resource list
As therapists, we know that rapport is the cornerstone of the therapeutic process and the greatest indicator for positive outcomes. We also know that rapport is built when there is empathy and validation of a person's experience. When a client can connect with a therapist who has lived experience there is access to information and knowledge that a cisgender therapist cannot possibly know. So when the opportunity presents itself, make a referral or get a consultation from a transgender or gender-diverse therapist. Reach out to Modern Path, we have a number of transgender and gender diverse folks on our team. There are many other folks in the Atlanta Metro area and around the country, need a name, let us know. We will connect you with someone in your area.
Speak Up, Be an Accomplice
The other day I was in the bank and a teller kept misgendering me. Another teller heard me say, “Please don’t call me ‘Ma’am,’ my name is Nick.” She misgendered me again. Her colleague politely walked over and said, “Hi Nick, what are your pronouns?” I replied, “thanks, he/him.” She then told her colleague very directly to call me “Sir.” Again, the teller “made a mistake” and this time called me “miss.” The second teller then disappeared and then the manager came to me and said, “Sir, come this way, let me help you.” He kindly took care of me at another window. That second teller, the one who checked in, is an accomplice. Not only did she try to help me, but she also sought the person in power and got me the help I needed, and put a stop to the situation.
BE AN ACCOMPLICE!
Everywhere you go. Don’t just help us in your therapy room, help us anywhere you can see us struggling.
Get more information
You can get more information about Transgender Day of Visibility at GLSEN. Including resources related to transgender rights, gender terminology and lesson plans, and more.