International Transgender Day of Visibility

March 31 is International Transgender Day of Visibility – an annual day to officially celebrate the experiences and achievements of trans and gender diverse people across the globe. The umbrella term ‘trans and gender diverse’ describes a population of people whose gender is different to what was presumed for them at birth.¹

Visibility allows communities to grow, and a designated Day of Visibility provides the opportunity for trans and gender diverse people to come together to show the broader community how diverse they are.

While trans and gender diverse communities have long existed, persisted, and thrived they need more than just a single day of visibility.

They need support, understanding and acceptance – year-round.

And, by learning more you can help create a happier and safer place for trans and gender diverse people.

You can watch, listen, and download a range of resources that cover topics including:

• The Basics
• Relationships
• How to be an Ally.

In fact, there are lots of resources available to help you become informed, start a conversation safely, and attend important events! We’ve listed some of the best info below, so read on.

Celebrating – and improving

As we recognise achievement this Transgender Day of Visibility, we also know there’s much more work to be done.

Trans and gender diverse people continue to experience stigma, discrimination, and violence. These experiences can have a lasting and negative impact and be a major barrier to accessing healthcare, treatment, and support services. ²

When someone accesses health services and receives judgement or poor care it can change how they might engage with healthcare in the future.³ Experiencing stigma can make someone less likely to reach out for help when they need it.

Every person has a right to health care, and to be treated with dignity and respect when accessing it.

This is especially true for alcohol and other drug (AOD) support services, where people often experience multiple barriers when trying to get help.

Addressing stigma, eliminating discrimination, and increasing service access for people who are trans and gender diverse in the AOD sector is a crucial part of ensuring everyone can access the support they need.

Take a tip from Rainbow Health’s Inclusive Language Guide which says:

‘’It’s important to try to use respectful language and some mistakes are understandable, particularly when you are learning. If you make a mistake, apologise promptly and move on. Don’t dwell on it, and don’t give up – keep trying to get it right.’’

Resources for the AOD sector

Videos

• Watch -  TransHub Talks: Healthcare Experiences

Resources

• Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies – NADA’s AOD LGBTIQ Inclusive Guidelines for Treatment Providers
• Zoe Belle Gender Collective – Best Practice for Trans and Gender Diverse Healthcare
• Policy and Practice Recommendations for AOD Service Providers supporting the Trans and Gender Diverse (TGD) Community
• TransHub: Creating Welcoming Environments
• TransHub: Information for Allies
• TransHub: Trans Mob
• YGender: Gender is Not Uniform
• Transcend: A Guide for Schools to Support and Affirm Gender
• Transcend: Student Support Plan – Gender Affirmation

Key organisations

• Trans Pride Australia
• TransHub (ACON)
• Transcend Australia
• Transgender Victoria

Training

• ACON Pride Training (online options available)
• Minus18 Training (workplace and school options)
• Rainbow Tick quality framework (framework, audit tool, supporting webinars, and more)

You can also register or donate as a business/organisation or individual with the Welcome Here Project.

While visibility is an important first step, we can also take action to create safe and welcoming spaces - today, on International Transgender Day of Visibility, and every day.