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"
International Transgender Day of Visibility is honored every year on March 31, and is a time to celebrate transgender people around the globe and the courage it takes to live openly and authentically, while also raising awareness around the discrimination trans people still face.
In observing the annual celebration, New York-based trans singer-songwriter Mila Jam shares a new video for her uplifting LGBT anthem, “Faces."
Laverne Cox, Candis Cayne, Tituss Burgess, Ari Gold, Sense8’s Jamie Clayton, supermodel Geena Rocero, Drag Race’s Peppermint, Transparent’s Zackary Drucker, Lina Bradford and Jai Rodriguez are just some of the famous faces lip-syncing along in the clip.
Mila shares about the new song (via press release):
“Faces” is about looking in that mirror and hearing do I belong, am I enough, will someone love me for who I really am? We wear smiles all the time but hide in fear and loathing because we feel different. The journey is universal no matter who you are. And, working through the dark uncertainties is all about learning to radiate your own light. Bravely. Unapologetically. Authentically. Happily.
Jam told OUT, “Everyone needs to see a reflection of themselves. Trans people are no different and completely worthy—beyond worthy. Trans Day of Visibility is a way to say, ’We belong here, just like you.'”
Proceeds from the sale of the single on iTunes will be go to the ONEPULSE Foundation, which aids the victims of the Pulse massacre.
