International Transgender Day of Visibility celebrates transgender and non-binary people around the world

March 31 is International Transgender Day of Visibility, dedicated to celebrating transgender and non-binary people around the world. It was started in 2009 to acknowledge and celebrate members of the transgender community.

“At the University of Calgary we celebrate trans members of the university community in our families and the broader society. This day is meant to reflect on the too-often unacknowledged contributions to our campus and in our community,” says Dr. Malinda Smith, vice-provost equity, diversity and inclusion. 

Before the International Transgender Day of Visibility was recognized globally to celebrate this community, the only other celebration was the Transgender Day of Remembrance (Nov. 20), mourning the murders of transgender people.  

First organized in 2009 by transgender activist Rachel Crandall in Michigan, since then the Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) has become an international day of celebration for members of the transgender, gender diverse, two spirit, Indigiqueer community and their allies.

“As a world-renowned research-based institution, we recognize the array of contributions that members of our diverse community bring to the table every day, in teaching and learning, in research and scholarship, and in community engagement. To seek and create equitable pathways for the best scholars we also need to go beyond celebrating diversity to proactively removing barriers to participation, and ensuring the culture and climate enables everyone to thrive,” says Smith.

In COVID times a number of things are different this year, including there being no theme, and events moving online.

• At UCalgary, a number of events have been organized by members of the community
• In Calgary, and across Canada, virtual celebrations will include that organized by the Gender and Sexuality Alliance of the Graduate Students' Association
• Across Canada the QueerEvents page has assembled events listings to celebrate TDOV

Members of the UCalgary community can also celebrate TDOV online through a collaboration between Instagram, GLAAD, The Trevor Project and Out Magazine, featuring renowned comedians, shows on Netflix, and stories that will go live on Out Instagram on March 31.