Trans Day of Visibility is marked annually on 31st March. It is a day to celebrate the lives, achievements and resilience of transgender and non-binary people, whilst highlighting the discrimination and inequality they face. This year, we are delighted that Nottingham Pastel Project have contributed a guest blog post. Written by Jess, their Co-Director, she shares her experiences of being trans and what Trans Day of Visibility means to her.
If I had more time maybe I’d stop to think about how calling it Trans Day of VISIBILITY is a bit on the nose. But I don’t have more time, must keep busy, always things to do.
This is trite and overly self aware, but does hold some truth. In the decade or so I’ve been out and living, I’ve on and off to the ebb and flow of my mental health, wished I was more invisible as I move around the world. At the start it was for reasons of relieving those feelings of dysphoria, that disconnect between the ‘I am’ and the ‘who’s that?’ that everyone including the mirror sees. Those distraught days pass though, and are replaced with memories and experiences of personal bravery and resolution, of trust and acceptance, along with a restoration of self worth and confidence. The single greatest thing I have done to improve my mental health is to be me. Shortly after this, you start to think previously unheard thoughts like ‘I can do this, I can handle this’ and you start to want to be more visible. Because if I can do this, if I can handle this, then anyone can – maybe they just need to see someone living their life. So I did and I still do, to the best or worst of my ability depending on who’s talking.
However, in these last few years of the decade, that is becoming more of a luxury. As the world turns to a more dismal chapter, trans people have become a means to an end to sow division and hate, so standing out comes with ever more risk and danger. We have had narrative, rumour and focus forced on our lives from government to press and media slowly building up pressure with every letter printed, and sound bites clipped and re-posted by anonymous accounts, with the aim to make our lives harder to live, to make us disappear, to give up.
No one should have to endure this kind of campaign of hate, but it’s one that has been repeated time and time again for minority groups throughout history, who are forced to endure as sadly history has also taught us that hate is not easily overcome and even harder to dispel completely.
The lesson doesn’t end there though as there is always a high watermark for hate, as it too ebbs and flows. And with the help of allies and people wanting a better, more hopeful, positive future for all with mutual support in those times that we need it. Trans Day of Visibility can be your opportunity to be visible in support and advocating for the trans community, as we are – after all – your friends, your family, co-workers, partners and neighbours.
Jess
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The Pastel Project is a grassroots advocacy and campaigning group, working on behalf of the Trans & Non-Binary community in the UK. Based in Nottingham they are a trans-led, wholly volunteer organisation, working tirelessly to advance inclusion and acceptance through their campaigns, outreach, promotions and research.
Mental health support available:
- Mermaids supports transgender, non-binary and gender-diverse children and young people, as well as their families and professionals involved in their care.
- Nottingham LGBT Network, Derbyshire LGBT+, and Leicester LGBTQ Centre provide local support to all LGBTQIA+ identities, including trans and non-binary people.
- Switchboard is a national LGBT+ helpline.
- Harmless provide self harm and suicide prevention to people of all ages, you can self-refer into our services here.
