Support

Celebrate Trans People! A week of joy, affirmation, and action

Every day leading up to Transgender Day of Visibility (#TDOV) on Thursday, March 31, we’ll be celebrating trans people. Our week of action started yesterday, when we introduced organizations supporting our most vulnerable trans people and shared ways to thank them.

Today we are celebrating trans artists and creators. We'll be live on the PFLAG National Instagram channel today at 7pm ET/4pm PT with openly trans actor Michael D. Cohen, who'll join us in conversation with our friends from Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund and National Black Justice Coalition, talking about visibility and representation--and how to fight back against the anti-trans bills being introduced across the country.

Then, join us on our social accounts Tuesday and Wednesday to learn about ways to show up for trans people in your community and to take action to ensure that trans people everywhere can live safe, happy, and healthy lives.

Our week of action culminates with #TDOV on Thursday; be sure to join us as we share stories of trans joy and amplify trans voices.

Learn more on our resource page for ways to celebrate trans trailblazers, as well as actions and resources for being strong allies this week and, more importantly, year-round to our trans loved ones. 

Education

Three Steps to Being a Better Trans Ally

Thursday is Trans Day Of Visibility. Here are some ideas to be a better trans ally:

1. Learn: Check out straightforequality.org/trans to help you learn more about what you can do to be a better ally to individuals who identify as transgender and/or nonbinary, no matter where you are on your ally journey.
2. Watch: Rewatch our Supporting Trans and Nonbinary Loved Ones: What Would You Do? PFLAG Academy Online learning session, to keep your allyship skills sharp and focused. Want to learn more about Nonbinary identities? Be sure to also take a look at What The +?: Understanding and Supporting Expansive LGBTQ+ Identities. 
3. Share: Use social media to help spread the word about virtual events in your community meant to commemorate Trans Day of Visibility. Following PFLAG National on social media and participate in our Celebrate Trans People! weeklong campaign.

Advocacy

Federal Protections for Trans and Nonbinary Kids and Their Families

Do anti-trans state bills feel like an avalanche? The numbers tell the story. State legislative sessions run for two years, so bills not passed in the first are carried to the second. There are about 183 anti-trans state bills in play right now. Of these, 122 were introduced in 2022, 41 of which are bans on affirming care for trans youth. This TDOV, amidst these state attacks, the Biden Administration is promoting and enforcing federal protections to help families of trans and nonbinary youth know their rights and make them known to other affected families.

• For Parents and Families: Use the OCR online complaint portal to report family mistreatment on the basis of gender identity or disability in seeking to access gender-affirming health care to the Office of Civil Rights.
• For Healthcare Providers: Review and report violations of HHS’s guidance on patient privacy, which clarifies that, despite the Texas government’s threat, healthcare providers are not required to disclose private patient information related to gender-affirming care.
• For State Child Welfare Agencies: An HHS Information Memorandum clarifies that states should use their child welfare systems to advance safety and support for LGBTQI+ youth, including transgender youth, which includes access to gender-affirming care.

Something to Talk About...Live!

This Transgender Day of Visibility, Let’s Seek Out Joy

Since 2009, March 31 has been recognized as Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV), a day that is meant to celebrate the lives and contributions of transgender people around the world. With the unprecedented volume of state level bills targeting people who are trans, this year TDOV feels especially important.

Join us this Thursday, March 31st at 4:30 PM ET / 1:30 PM PT for Something To Talk About Live, where we will be discussing Emme Lund’s article in Romper, “When They Come For Our Joy” with Maria Montaño, the first openly trans woman to serve as Press Secretary for the city of Pittsburgh, and Reverend Debra Hopkins, a proud trans woman of color and licensed non-denominational minister.  

You can watch live on Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, or Twitter.

For more information--and to check out our discussion questions in advance--visit pflagnation.al/STTALive-033122.