March 31 is International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV)
TDOV focuses on two main motivations. First, it is a time to celebrate transgender people around the world and their courage to live openly and authentically.
Secondly, it is a day to raise awareness of the discrimination transgender people face and the work we still need to do to combat this discrimination and violence.
The day was founded in 2009 as a response to the lack of recognition of transgender people in the LGBTQ community. Rachel Crandall-Crocker, the founder and transgender activist, felt frustrated that the only well-known, transgender-focused day was the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), which takes place in November.
While TDOR memorializes those who have been murdered as a result of transphobia, Crandall-Crocker wanted a more celebratory day that recognized living members of the transgender community and their contributions to society.
Thus, TDOV is a day of empowerment, celebration and recognition. It is a day to remind our communities that transgender people are more than the oppression that they face, while also working to eradicate that oppression.
With that in mind, we want to celebrate our trans friends, family and co-workers. Thank you for your courage, strength and authenticity, and all your contributions to DISH and our larger communities.
In honor of TDOV, we encourage team members to take some time to learn more about the transgender community and how you can be an ally.
Read through some commonly asked questions on the Human Rights Campaign website or check out the GLAAD website for tips on being a better ally.
Additional resources for both transgender people and their allies are below:
Transitioning at Work - Trans Toolkit for Employers
Transgender Visibility in the Workplace Blog
Support Groups:
Trans Women Support Group - Thursdays from 6:30 to 7:45pm
Trans Men Support Group - Fridays from 6:30 to 7:45pm
Non-Binary Support Group - 1st and 3rd Tuesdays each month from 6:30 to 7:45pm