Instagram Celebrates International Trans Day Of Visibility

Actress Laverne Cox joined folks all around the world today on Instagram to observe International Trans Day of Visibility.

"As an out, visible, black, transgender woman everyday is #TransDayOfVisibility for me. My blackness, transness and womanhood are political, social and historic realities. But my spirit, my soul, my humanity transcend these identity categories. As an artist I have always yearned for transcendence. Today I continue to do the spiritual work towards that transcendence. But the political, social and historic realities of the multiple identities I inhabit, continue to affect how I and people like me move through the world and access space and resources.

"In this context it becomes necessary, vital to celebrate ourselves and these socially constructed yet personally, politically and historically relevant identities we inhabit.

"Trans people are under attack perhaps now more than ever as we enjoy more visibility than we have ever known. So on this #transdayofvisibility #tdov2017 we celebrate trans folks, those who are visible, by circumstance and by choice. We celebrate and are visible for those who can not be. As we celebrate visibility we also acknowledge the limits of visibility.

"We acknowledge that trans folks experience violence disproportionately, that the past 3 years there have been more murders of trans folks than since we have been tracking trans homicides. We acknowledge that trans students are under attack in the United States. We #StandwithGavin Grimm and trans students like him across this nation fighting for dignity and equal access.

"We acknowledge that bills like HB2 and the bill masquerading as a repeal of that bill but is only more discrimination, are about erasing trans people from public life.

"We acknowledge that when we are excluded from being counted in census data this is another attempt to erase us. We acknowledge that when trans folks are misgendered and disavowed this is yet another attempt to stigmatize and erase us. We acknowledge that folks at the intersections of multiple identities being targeted must be lifted up.

"On this Trans Day of Visibility we reassert that we will not and cannot be erased. Happy #TransDayOfVisibility #TransIsBeautiful"

I am black, I am latino, I am a child of immigrants, and I am an out transgender man. I proudly walk in my truth every day and try my hardest to serve the community with the platform I am so fortunate to have. #transdayofvisibility #lovewins

A post shared by Laith Ashley [De La Cruz]🇩🇴 (@laith_ashley) on Mar 31, 2017 at 11:53am PDT

✖️Updated version: Today is #transdayofvisibility and I just wanted to say to everybody who may be struggling right now about their identity or may be scared to come out as trans to family, friends or even to themselves, I just wanted to say fight for your own happiness, never give up on yourself, be proud of who you are as a person. You are lovely, you are beautiful/handsome, You are strong. You will thank yourself one day for being strong enough to push through the storm you may be going through and is able to finally say to yourself "I made it" and honestly that is the best feeling when you look back on how far you've come. I fought for my happiness and never given up even when I wanted to not live anymore, I felt hopeless, defeated and many other horrible things. I did go through hell and back with family, friends, work, and including myself, but I never gave up, I fought and fought to get where I am today and I can honestly say I'm so proud of who I am and who I've become. I created myself, I am SELF MADE, I am the man I was meant to be all along,🚹but most of all I am trans and I never been happier and proud. Be strong, stay true. I know you can get through this. Please don't give up on yourself, don't give up without a fight. I promise YOU that there is light at the end of the tunnel. There is hope💙💙Be strong for yourself. You got this 💪🏻💪🏻 I am here for every single one of you, I support you, and I'm by your side. I AM VISIBlE to those who can't be. Remember; everyone has their own timing to their journey it's not a race, Trust the process. (This is also to anyone who may be struggling with something difficult in their life) ✖️#ftm #ftmfitness #transpride #trans #transguy #transman #transandproud #transgender #tdov #ftmhrt #ftmtransgender #guyswithbeards #mtf #transformation #happy #myjourney #testosterone #transisbeautiful #mohawk #guyswithtattoos

A post shared by @jayden_thelonewolf on Mar 31, 2017 at 12:33pm PDT

A post shared by @1emmine on Mar 31, 2017 at 4:38pm PDT

Just in time for Trans Day of Visibility, new all gender bathroom signs arrived to replace the older ones and they're being screwed into the walls! So awesome! Thank you all for making this day a beautiful day for all of us! 🌻 #GallaudetUnite #OurBathrooms #UnapologeticallyTrans #TDoV #transdayofvisibility #allgenderbathroom #transmasc #nonbinarytrans #androgyne #nonbinaryboy #flowerboy #androgynousperson #ze #zir #zirself

A post shared by Britton Emery (@sunrisee) on Mar 31, 2017 at 4:29pm PDT