Title
Declaring March 31, 2023 as International Transgender Day of Visibility in the City of Philadelphia.
Body
WHEREAS, We celebrate transgender, non-binary, and gender expansive Philadelphians. We honor their vibrancy, their resilience, and their ability to imagine, to live, and to lead us to a life outside of the stringent gender binary. We denounce growing efforts to criminalize the existence and care of our transgender, non-binary, and gender expansive neighbors; and
WHEREAS, International Transgender Day of Visibility takes place annually on March 31st to celebrate transgender and non-binary people and raise awareness of discrimination and oppression faced by trans people worldwide; and
WHEREAS, We recognize that visibility alone is not enough. Until we have justice and equity for transgender and non-binary people, visibility will always carry some risk and may not be
possible for all. Recent advances in equity and visibility won by transgender and non-binary advocates include expanding nondiscrimination protections for transgender Americans in housing, healthcare, credit, lending, and education, government funding for trans healthcare, and increasing the visibility of transgender people in critical leadership roles. Despite hard-earned victories led by trans and non-binary leaders, there is a growing hateful and proto-genocidal the effort to ban discussion and expression, invasively police bodies, regulate appearance, and deny life-saving medical care. This cruel and abhorrent campaign has had a profound effect on the health and physical safety of trans and non-binary folks, particularly trans women of color; and
WHEREAS, Civil rights victories won by trans activists have expanded judicial and legislative recognition of the fundamental rights for gender identity and expression and provided a greater number of people with the basic protections needed to ensure human dignity and self-determination. However, these rights are currently under extreme threat; and
WHEREAS, There is a growing and dangerous nationwide effort to fundamentally attack and eradicate transgender youth and transgender lives. This year alone, Utah, Wyoming, South Dakota, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, and South Carolina have passed anti-trans legislation targeting life-saving healthcare, access to public facilities, drag performances, and education. At least 27 other states currently have anti-trans bills pending. In this climate, transgender visibility can carry the risk of devastating consequences, including fear of state separation of children from loving families, imprisonment, and forced detransition; and
WHEREAS, The hundreds of anti-trans bills passed or introduced have created thousands of trans refugees in our country as individuals and families are forced to flee to places where they are safer. These invidious attacks on trans lives have also resulted in powerful resistance, support, and solidarity, especially amongst trans youth communities and organizations who have courageously led the fight against these efforts and have expanded protections and access to healthcare in states and cities across the country; and
WHEREAS, At least six transgender people have already been killed this year, each of them an irreplaceable loss: Tortuguita, 26, killed by Georgia State Troopers during a protest against a massive new police training facility in Atlanta; Chashay Henderson, 31; Maria Jose Rivera Rivera, 22; Zachee Imanitwitaho; Unique Banks, 21; KC Johnson, 27; and Star Mack, 36. And in Philadelphia, we remember transgender community members who have been killed, including Shahere "Diamond" Jackson-Mcdonald, 27; Dominique “Rem’mie” Fells, 27; Mia Green, 29; Stacey Blahnik, 31; Nizah Morris, 47; Diamond Williams, 31; Kyra Kruz, 27; London Kiki Chanel, 21; Maya Young, 25; Shantee Tucker, 30; Keisha Jenkins, 22; Tanya Moore, 31; Tina Rodriguez, 27; Mar’Quis ‘MJ’ Jackson, 33 and Michelle 'Tameka" Washington, 40, and the unnamed, They are all still loved; and
WHEREAS, Many transgender people are killed and not honored because the media misreports their identities. For each transgender person killed or lost this year and in years past, we mourn them, we honor them, and we re-commit to fighting for them and for a world where deaths like theirs never happen again; and
WHEREAS, Numerous organizations and movements, including the #MeToo movement founded by Tarana Burke and the National Center for Transgender Equality, recognize that transgender, non-binary, and gender expansive people face severe and disproportionate rates of violence and discrimination, including in accessing housing, healthcare, and other supports; and
WHEREAS, In the face of these hardships, transgender people continue to inspire the world
with their mere existence, as well as with their manifold achievements and their powerful spirit; Tremendous trans community members and leaders from Philadelphia, including Janis Stacy, Ebony Ali, Tatyana Woodard, Madelyn Morrison, Ovid Amorson, Deej McCoy, Elizabeth Coffey Williams, Lia Thomas, Valentina Rosario, Kendall Stephens, Breighton Golphin, Jaci Adams, Henry Sias, Deja Alvarez, Dawn Munro, Kathleen Padilla, Sharron Cooks, Charlene Arcila, Naiymah Sanchez, Hazel Edwards, and many other unsung heroes, serve as role models and inspirations to every community that intersects with who they are and the experience they have; and
WHEREAS, We celebrate everything transgender people have accomplished throughout
history, and we recognize that transgender people have contributed and continue to contribute to the betterment of our society and our City. We Honor the life of Jaci Adams, Charlene Arcila, and Dawn Munro for their contribution to moving Philadelphia forward. We uplift the names and work of Sylvia Rivera, Miss Major, and Marsha P. Johnson, who were instrumental in the fight against all forms of oppression, participating in the 1965 Dewey lunch counter protests in Philadelphia, the formation of STAR, the 1969 Stonewall Riots; and
WHEREAS, We recognize and celebrate the work of trans advocacy groups, which continue the fight for dignity and equal rights for members of the trans community. These efforts are building inclusive and healing spaces, and protecting and defending those who are most vulnerable, including disabled folks and people in prison; and
WHEREAS, As we grieve the loss of transgender elders and celebrate and remember everything they have given us, we are excited for the next generation of transgender youth to take charge, to push us all to be and do better, to thrive, to outgrow the wisdom of this generation and create their own; and
WHEREAS, Transgender people are resilient and exist through attempted genocides,
discrimination, violence, and hate with strength, tenacity, joy, humanity, and power that
demonstrates the best in human nature and will once again triumph against those who
seek to oppress; and
WHEREAS, In Philadelphia, we are steadfast in affirming our commitment to uphold our municipal laws prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity in housing, employment, and public accommodations, and our intention to vigorously uphold protections for transgender and non-binary young people that were recently passed into law; and
WHEREAS, We believe in the inherent value of each and every person, including our transgender, non-binary, and gender expansive community members, without exception; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Declares March 31, 2022 as International Transgender Day of Visibility in the City of Philadelphia.
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