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Recognizing March 31, 2021 as International Transgender Day of Visibility to celebrate transgender and gender non-conforming people around the world, raise awareness about the unique struggles and discrimination they face, and honor their resilience and success.
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WHEREAS, Transgender Day of Visibility was founded in 2009 by Rachel Crandall, a transgender activist who was inspired by the fact that there was no holiday to celebrate transgender people. At the time, the only commemoration for transgender people was Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day to mourn victims of hate crimes; and
WHEREAS, While Transgender Day of Remembrance commemorates those have suffered and died at the hands of discrimination, Transgender Day of Visibility celebrates living members of the transgender community and what it means to be transgender. It takes action in educating, spreading awareness, and changing biases; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia has witnessed brutal homicides against transgender people in the last year. In June 2020, 27-year-old Dominique “Rem’mie” Fells was brutally murdered. Her body was found on the banks of the Schuylkill River Trail. In September 2020, 29-year-old Mia Green was found fatally shot during a traffic stop. The City of Philadelphia’s Office of LGBT Affairs issued a statement in 2020 acknowledging the “epidemic of violence against trans individuals” in our country; and
WHEREAS, A 2018 report by the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs found that 52% of anti-LGBTQ homicides in 2017 were committed against trans and gender non-conforming people, and 40% of anti-LGBTQ homicides were committed against trans women of color. Transgender people of color are especially likely to endure police mistreatment; and
WHEREAS, Transgender people experience significantly higher unemployment rates than their cisgender peers. In a 2020 survey, over 25% of respondents reported being fired due to their trans or gender non-conforming identity. This rate is significantly higher for trans people of color; and
WHEREAS, LGBTQ youth of color are over-represented in child welfare and juvenile justice systems due to racism, gender discrimination, and family rejection; and
WHEREAS, Transgender people experience homelessness at a rate of twice the national average. In a 2011 survey, 19% of transgender people reported being refused housing and 11% reported being evicted due to their being trans; and
WHEREAS, Transgender people are less likely to seek medical attention due to fear of discrimination; and
WHEREAS, Transgender people, especially transgender people of color, people with low incomes, and trans people with disabilities, are more likely to experience disenfranchisement due to restrictive voter ID laws; and
WHEREAS, A 2011 survey found that, at school, 78% of trans or nonbinary K-12 students reported harassment, 35% reported physical assault, and 12% reported sexual violence, with 30% of this harassment coming from the hands of teachers and school staff; and
WHEREAS, According to the National Transgender Discrimination Survey, 41% of transgender people have attempted suicide, which is 25 times higher than that of the general population. However, trans people with supportive families and trans people who live in states with gender identity nondiscrimination laws are much less likely to have suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Additionally, trans youth mental health improves when young people hear their chosen name more frequently. Thus, it is exceedingly important to honor and respect transgender people’s chosen gender in every way possible; and
WHEREAS, There is a lot of pressure on transgender and nonbinary people to change, conform, and prove their gender to others, and Transgender Day of Visibility reaffirms acceptance of individuals in their chosen genders, without the need for any changes; and
WHEREAS, Transgender Day of Visibility is an opportunity for cis people to learn from the strength and accomplishments of the transgender community while showing solidarity, support, and allyship to those who feel invisible within their own communities and live everyday in fear of discrimination; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby recognizes March 31, 2021 as International Transgender Day of Visibility to celebrate transgender and gender non-conforming people around the world, raise awareness about the unique struggles and discrimination they face, and honor their resilience and success.
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