A Few Ways to Support Transgender and Gender Diverse Communities – In Honour of Trans Day of Visibility 2024
Our transgender and gender diverse communities are some of the most at-risk of violence and assault, making the need to advocate for and protect our communities highly important. Acting in solidarity is a great way to support trans and gender diverse communities, but it is important to note that doing so is a journey that requires continuous learning, advocacy, and kindness. This Trans Day of Visibility, I invite you to start or continue your journey in showing your support for trans and gender diverse communities.
This week, I learned through a TikTok by creator Ash Perez (he/him), that violence towards a community directly correlates with not knowing someone from that community (e.g., you might be more likely to enact violence against a trans person if you don’t know a trans person). This has led to a few users on TikTok partaking in the #nowyouknowmechallenge, to increase the visibility of trans folk (there aren’t many videos yet but it’s growing!).
But there are other initiatives to increase the visibility of trans folk. Transgender Victoria’s video series showcasing a few individuals in our transgender and gender diverse communities is a great place to start.
If you’re new to this, here are a few ways to start this journey.
Affirm their identity and pronouns (and share your pronouns!)
It’s no secret that pronouns matter. Understanding and affirming one’s gender identity and pronouns is a simple yet powerful way to show our trans and gender diverse folk that you see them and value them for who they are. Introducing yourself with your pronouns first can also communicate that you’re a safe space and person to be with. You can do this in conversation, or add your pronouns to social media profiles and email signatures.
Educate yourself!
While your trans and gender diverse person might be happy to tell you about their experiences, it’s up to us in our journey to learn about the history and experiences of the community. There are heaps of movies, documentaries, books and even podcasts out there that you can dive into!
Get involved!
If you’re more of a hands-on person, there are many organisations you can volunteer with, or donate to. A few to start with are Minus18, Transgender Victoria, PFLAG+, AGMC, and Trans Pride Australia.
Amplify trans voices
It’s important to follow trans creators and organisations on social media, and uplift their stories, share their posts and spread their experiences. Don’t be afraid to fill your feed with trans and gender diverse content – the more we amplify trans voices, the better.
It’s important to note that everyone's journey is unique, and what one trans person needs might be completely different from another. As with most things we do in life, it’s important to check in with the trans or gender diverse person in your life, to understand their needs (and also understand that these can evolve over time!). What’s important is to be kind and respectful, and to celebrate your person.
Trans and gender diverse folk should be celebrated with joy and happiness just as much as they are respected for their resilience.
What steps can you take today to support transgender and gender diverse individuals in your community?
I support trans and gender diverse folk through therapy in-person in Brisbane, and online world-wide. If you’d like to find out more, have a look here! If you’re ready to open your world to therapy, go here.
