Today, President Joe Biden marked International Transgender Day of Visibility by issuing the first presidential proclamation recognizing the day the day.
March 31 was designated in 2009 as International Transgender Day of Visibility by Rachel Crandall Crocker, executive director of Transgender Michigan. It has caught on as a time to celebrate the successes of transgender and gender-nonconforming people.
Last week, the U.S. Senate confirmed Biden’s choice, Rachel Levine, as assistant health secretary. Making her the highest ranking openly transgender official in the country.
On Jan. 2o, Biden’s furst day on office, he issued an executive order preventing and combating discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation. Several state legislatures opposed this and responded with acts barring athletes from participating in sports with gender identities other than the one assigned at birth.
CNN offers three ways to be an ally to trans and non-binary people: Seek authentic stories created by people within the trans community, offer to help LGBTQ centers and educate yourself.
Education is why the Michigan State University Bias Busters project made “100 Questions and Answers About Gender Identity.” It is available from Amazon or the Front Edge Publishing bookstore.
