How local advocates are observing the Transgender Day of Visibility

Trans advocates are using this year's International Transgender Day of Visibility to shed light on their lived experiences — including celebrating trans people's positive societal contributions.

That's one of the reasons the day was originally created. 

Locally, trans advocates like Jake Farr say it's also important to draw attention to the discrimination that many trans, non-binary and two-spirit people face every day.

"I'm consistently trying to break down all the myths: 'we don't know who we are' and 'we must have mental illness' and those kinds of things," Farr, a social worker and counsellor in Pickering, Ont., told CBC Toronto. 

"We're just human beings," he said. "It's really got to stop."

Farr and others — including Dean Lobo at Toronto non-profit, The 519 — say this year's Transgender Day of Visibility is especially significant given a recent string of government legislation they say is targeting trans youth. 

Last year, in 2023, both New Brunswick and Saskatchewan introduced policies requiring parental consent for students under 16 to change their pronouns and names at school. 

Earlier this year, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced her government will introduce legislation in the fall of 2024 with measures to limit gender-affirming care for youth. This would include banning top and bottom surgeries for minors — doctors say bottom surgeries aren't performed on youth and top surgeries are rare — as well as banning puberty blockers and hormone therapies for minors aged 15 and under and requiring schools to notify parents if their child alters their name or pronouns.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, meanwhile, has previously said his government has no plans to change the province's rules around gender-affirming care. 

Everyone who supports trans people should be concerned about what's happening in other parts of the country, Lobo at The 519 told CBC Toronto.

"With everything that's going on in our world, in our country… it is very, very important for us to actively advocate visibly for the rights and safety of two-spirit, trans and gender diverse folks," he said. 

For this year's day of visibility, The 519 is encouraging allies to show visible support for the community, since many trans, non-binary and two-spirit people don't feel safe advocating for themselves.

"Ask your employer for gender-inclusive policies, advocate for inclusion at school," Farr said. 

"If you're an event organizer, an employer, a landlord or a policymaker, whoever you are, it's important to recognize and understand your privilege in creating and fostering safety and safer spaces for trans folk."