Today, on International Transgender Day of Visibility, we celebrate the lives and achievements of our transgender, gender-diverse, and intersex (TGI) siblings, acknowledging their collective strength and resilience while uplifting their voices and stories.
The kaleidoscopic lens of visibility is both a celebration and an urgent call to action. It’s an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to inclusivity, equality, and the unwavering support of every individual’s right to live authentically and without fear.
However, we also acknowledge that not everyone has the safety and security to be visible in an era marked by escalating anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and legislative attacks from the far-right. Below, TGI Center staff members share what visibility means to them, along with some words of wisdom for future generations.
“It’s time for a change,” says Sydney Rogers, program manager of the Trans Economic Empowerment Project. “In 2024, Trans Day of Visibility is a political stance.”
Read more from Center staff below:
Sydney Rogers (she/her)
Program Manager, Trans Economic Empowerment Project
What does it mean to you to be visible?
Trans Day of Visibility means so many things. For one thing, it shows that we, as TGI people, are capable. We are capable of having jobs, we are capable of being articulate, we’re capable of being visible in the workplace, in the LGBTQ+ community. It shows that we’re not just performers; we’re here in the community to be more than that. A lot of the time, people think that TGI people are here for only entertainment purposes. But it’s time for a change. In 2024, Trans Day of Visibility is a political stance.
What would you say to TGI youth in this moment when anti-trans legislation and rhetoric is surging across the country?
Oh, my darlings. I would tell them to hold tight. I would tell them that this wave of what’s going on is only temporary. I would tell them that the more that we are visible as TGI people, the more people are going to be fearful of us. It has happened in the women’s movement. It has happened in the Civil Rights movement, and is happening in this movement. Know that it is part of history. I would also tell our TGI youth that this is the time to gather your strength. This is the time to take care of yourselves even more, to eat and drink and sleep well. Drink lots of water, gather your people around you, and uplift each other.
Jasper McLennan (he/him)
Finance Administrative Coordinator
What does it mean to you to be visible?
To me, being visible is literally just existing as my true self; I’m lucky enough to exist as myself 100% of the time, and this day is a chance to celebrate that.
What would you say to TGI youth in this moment when anti-trans legislation and rhetoric is surging across the country?I’d share some words that I received from another employee here at the Center over 10 years ago: Just keep going. Keep living as your authentic self; it will get better. Don’t let what other people have to say—even if it’s the government—make you feel down about your identity. Exist as freely as you can. You know yourself better than anyone could ever know you.
April Saravia (she/her)
Linkage to Care Specialist, Trans Wellness Center
What does it mean to you to be visible?
As a transgender woman of color, it means being able to help and uplift other people of my own experience. Being able to bring them up to where they need to go, whether they’re facing homelessness, substance use issues, or are in need of mental health services.
What would you say to TGI youth in this moment when anti-trans legislation and rhetoric is surging across the country?
What I would say to my youth is, go out there and vote to make an impact to change the world. Because you have that power. You just need to get on board and be able to empower yourself. Use that towards making an impact and changing the future.
Mark Anthony Chavez (he/they)
Youth Intern, Marketing and Communications
What does it mean to you to be visible?
As a nonbinary person, it is so important to show people—people my age, younger, and even people who are older—that transness can exist on a spectrum, just like gender. When I exist as my authentic self, it helps show people the breadth and diversity of our community.
What would you say to TGI youth in this moment when anti-trans legislation and rhetoric is surging across the country?
I think especially now with all the anti-trans rhetoric and legislation, TGI youth need to hear that it is going to be okay. As long as you keep working hard for your community and with your community, you are not going to be alone. When you find any facet of community, hold on to it. Use it as your guiding light to create a better future for yourself and those around you. Keep trying, keep working hard, and keep loving yourself and your community as much as you can.
Jae O’Dougherty (they/them)
Operations Manager, Youth Services
What does it mean to you to be visible?
I think a lot about visibility in terms of the work environment—in this almost mundane sense. I know when I was a young person, I needed to see out queer people who were living very boring everyday lives. Because I grew up in a really rural place where that didn’t exist. When I came out, I was like, What does this mean for my life? Can I have a family? Am I gonna survive? So, I find a lot of satisfaction in being able to exist in the world as a visibly queer person, just living my daily life in hopes that it supports a future where other folks can be themselves too. And hopefully it won’t just be a safer future, but also more comfortable and more welcoming for everyone. I try to make that future in small ways, like making eye contact and greeting people and being as kind as I can be.
What would you say to TGI youth in this moment when anti-trans legislation and rhetoric is surging across the country?
We have way more power than they want us to believe. If we look very recently in our community history, we have a lot of organizing background that can help us win and care for each other in this moment. We should look to our elders and the folks who have survived moments like this before, for guidance to carry us through right now. This political moment has been designed to make us afraid of one another. When we’re told that someone else hates us, or another group doesn’t support us, one of the most radical things we can do is actually turn to those folks and ask. We need to build solidarity across groups so that we’re less easy to divide. I have a lot of hope that in this moment there’s actually a huge wave of love and care. But it’s going to come roaring forward to protect our community in ways that won’t be shakable in the future.
Alexi Zagar (he/him)
Program Coordinator, Trans Wellness Center (left, pictured with Vander Von Odd)
What does it mean to you to be visible?
Visibility for me is just coming into my own transness and queerness and just refusing to make myself palatable for other people—especially for cis folks. I feel like being my most authentic self is how I remain visible.
What would you say to TGI youth in this moment when anti-trans legislation and rhetoric is surging across the country?
I know everyone always says that it gets better, but I think we have to work to make it better. And I know it’s really scary, but look to peers, look to your elders. I know that when I was younger was when I felt the most scared and isolated. But there are so many ways to get in touch with our elder community today, and we can turn to them when things are rough. Because we’ve always been here, and we will continue to be here for years to come.
Arkaz Vardanyan (he/she)
Program Supervisor, Trans* Lounge
What does it mean to you to be visible?
I’m an openly transgender man. Even though some might use the term “passing,” I’ve been a transgender man—or boy—since I was 13 years old. But it’s important to me to be openly trans, especially with a lot of what’s been going on in the world right now. I just want to keep that open conversation going for me and my friends and my chosen family—and for the people I work with in the community.
What would you say to TGI youth in this moment when anti-trans legislation and rhetoric is surging across the country?
You know, it always goes back and forth. We’re on a sort of historic seesaw of negativity, positivity, political backlash, and then fighting back. We make strides forward, and then things go backward, and it keeps going back and forth. It seems hard to believe, but I think we are on a positive trend and in some ways coming back from a really severe negative backlash. It’s hard to tell because a lot of what gets reported is the really bad things going on for us. Of course, there are a lot of bad things—a lot of negativity and violence and all of that—but try to find the positive things that are going on, and look for ways you can contribute. Find the people who support you, and stay around those people. Because that’s what you really need when everything around you seems so negative.
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