Today, OUT Georgia Business Alliance honors International Transgender Day of Visibility 2020.
International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) is an annual event occurring on March 31 dedicated to celebrating transgender people and raising awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide, as well as a celebration of their contributions to society.
OUT Georgia Business Alliance proudly serves as Georgia’s only LGBTQ+ and Allied Chamber of Commerce, and we are proud to celebrate our transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) business owners and professionals who help advance and shape Georgia’s LGBTQ+ economy.
You inspire us with your tenacity, bravery, and excellence. At the same time, we recognize what you risk each day by simply living your lives authentically and unapologetically.
According to the National Center for Transgender Equality’s 2015 US Transgender Survey:
- 1 in 3 transgender or gender non-conforming Georgians reported being fired, denied a promotion or experiencing some other form of mistreatment related to their gender identity or expression in the workplace
- 80% of trans/GNC Georgians reported experiencing harassment in an education setting between Kindergarten and Grade 12
- 1 in 3 trans/GNC Georgians have experienced homelessness in their lifetime
- Half of trans/GNC Georgians avoid the use of public restrooms for fear of harassment
- 45% of trans/ GNC Georgians did not see a doctor in the previous year because they could not afford it, and 26% reported not seeing a doctor because of fear of mistreatment
“Our chamber represents the full LGBTQ+ spectrum, and it’s critically important that we stand proud with our TGNC community,” said Petrina Bloodworth, OUT Georgia’s Board President. “As our organization continuously improves how we embrace, serve, and show up for our trans and gender non-conforming siblings, know that we do so to fight the disproportional challenges still faced at home, in public, and in the workplace.”
Over the past year, OUT Georgia has rebranded to reflect a more welcoming representation of the LGBTQ+ community and added the Inclusion Chair position to our Board of Directors to advance TGNC and diverse initiatives.
We support TGNC-owned and operated businesses right here in Georgia, and we have representation on the NGLCC (National LGBT Chamber of Commerce) Trans Inclusion Task Force, a group with the ultimate goal of economic empowerment for trans and non-binary business owners across the United States.
OUT Georgia is preparing to launch an employment initiative and task force led by and for Georgia’s TGNC community. We believe actively engaging the leaders in this space and the people directly impacted will lead to the best solution, and we look forward to sharing more in the months ahead.
Know that the OUT Georgia Business Alliance stands with you and all those who identify with the TGNC experience across Georgia. We are committed to serving and supporting you on this Transgender Day of Visibility and every day moving forward.
In solidarity,
Petrina Bloodworth, Board President
Gabrielle Claiborne, Board Secretary & Inclusion Chair
Chris Lugo, Executive Director
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.