Today, OUT Georgia Business Alliance honors International Transgender Day of Visibility 2021.
International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) is an annual observance occurring on March 31 dedicated to celebrating transgender people’s contributions to society and raising awareness of discrimination faced by transgender, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary people worldwide, especially for trans women of color and Black trans women.
- Transgender people are 4x more likely to experience violence than cisgender people
- The average life expectancy of transgender women of color living in the Americas is 30-35
- In 2020, 44 transgender or gender non-conforming people fatally shot or killed by other violent means, the majority of which were Black and Latinx transgender women
- 2021 has been a record-breaking year for anti-trans legislation, and there have been at least 12 deaths of transgender and non-binary people so far this year
As OUT Georgia centers, celebrates, and supports our transgender community throughout the year, we ask our LGBTQ+ community and our allies to consider the following suggestions from Gabrielle Claiborne, OUT Georgia’s Board Secretary and chair of the TGNC360 Initiative:
Educate Yourself
Invest the time to educate yourself about transgender, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary people. There are so many resources available today to support you in this endeavor, including these tips for allies of transgender people, this guide to being an ally to transgender and nonbinary youth, and this article highlighting how to make transgender employees feel valued at work. Do NOT rely solely on TGNCNB individuals to educate you; over time, that becomes a heavy left. Help us carry that burden by doing your own work.
Educate Others
One of the best ways to remember what you’ve learned is to share it with someone else. So, share with people, in your personal and professional life, the things you’ve learned that can debunk common myths and misperceptions that people have about TGNCNB individuals.
Sponsor a TGNCNB individual
There are multiple ways you can sponsor TGNCNB people, from financially supporting their legal name change, gender marker change and/or birth certificate amendment to recommending them for a promotion in their workplace.
Use Your Pronouns
Display your pronouns in your email signature, LinkedIn profile, Zoom profile, website bios and on your name badge. When everyone shares their pronouns, it becomes the norm, and keeps TGNCNB people from feeling like the odd person out and from having to advocate for our own visibility. If you’re cisgender, remember that you probably have the privilege of having a name, gender expression and vocal register that match cultural assumptions about your gender identity; but not all of us have that. Use this pronoun guide and this document highlighting strategies for inclusion in the workplace.
Don’t Let Offensive Talk Slide
Pushback on offensive jokes and comments, whether you know you’re in the presence of a TGNCNB individual or not. The reality is, you may not know you’re in the presence of someone who’s gender diverse, or the parent or loved one of a TGNCNB person. When someone says something inappropriate, use it as an opportunity to create an educational moment. Say something like, “Speaking of trans people, I recently learned that…” and share something you know to be true. People are more inclined to hear what you have to say when it’s presented as a learning moment instead of as a reprimand. Check out this article highlighting how to combat transphobia in the workplace.
Support Local Trans-Led Organizations
Learn about and support these local trans-led nonprofit organizations:
- La Gender, Inc.
- Solutions Not Punishment Collaborative
- Southern Fried Queer Pride
- TRANScending Barriers Atlanta
- Trans(Forming)
- Trans Housing Atlanta Program
- Trans Housing Coalition
- Trans Gentlemen of Excellence
- Ubuntu, Inc
TGNC360 Initiative
OUT Georgia Business Alliance is proud to announce its TGNC360 initiative and advisory committee leadership guiding the organization’s new employment and entrepreneurship effort created by and for Georgia’s Transgender and Gender Nonconforming (TGNC) community.
TGNC360 aims to advance economic equity by providing full-service support to Georgia’s TGNC residents on their employment and entrepreneurship journeys, while connecting participants with TGNC-focused community partners to improve access to healthcare and affordable housing.
The full TGNC360 Advisory Committee includes chair Gabrielle Claiborne (OUT Georgia/Transformation Journeys Worldwide), Timothy R. Bussey (Kenyon College), Chanel R. Haley (Georgia Equality), Jamie Anne Harrell (Emory University), Justine Ingram (Southern AIDS Coalition/Trans Housing Atlanta Program), Dionne Kettl (TRANScending Barriers Atlanta), Jaye Meggs (Trans Gentlemen of Excellence), Dr. Kristen Peter Mork (MITRE Corporation), Dr. Elijah Nicholas (Dr. Elijah Nicholas, LLC), Sybastian Smith (National Center for Transgender Equality), Rev. Kimble Sorrells (United Church of Christ), and Feroza Syed (Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty).
Learn more about TGNC360 and our Advisory Committee
The above represent just a few examples of educational and support opportunities you can explore on this Transgender Day of Visibility 2021, but please consider how you are centering and showing up for our TGNCNB siblings throughout the year!
About OUT Georgia Business Alliance
OUT Georgia Business Alliance proudly serves as Georgia’s only LGBTQ+ and Allied Chamber of Commerce.
Since 1994, OUT Georgia Business Alliance (formerly the Atlanta Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce) has served the LGBTQ+ and Allied business community by advocating for the most inclusive and equitable business environment; providing support and resources to fuel economic growth; and driving meaningful community connections and impact across the State of Georgia.
OUT Georgia Business Alliance is a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., and is a proud affiliate of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce. For more information, contact us at OUTGeorgia.org or info@OUTGeorgia.org.
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