Sharing Knowledge
Humber College is committed to fostering a respectful and inclusive culture in which all members of the college community study, work and live free from discrimination and harassment. To this end, it is imperative that we understand the definition of key equity terms that will enrich our capacity to prevent all forms of harassment and discrimination. The Centre for Human Rights, Equity & Inclusion will be providing definitions of key terms pertinent to our work in building a more inclusive college.
Thursday, March 31 marks the Trans Day of Visibility (TDOV), a time to celebrate and amplify trans representation.
Trans is an umbrella term to describe people whose gender is not the same as, or does not sit comfortably with, the sex they were assigned at birth. Trans people may describe themselves using one or more of a wide variety of terms, including (but not limited to) transgender, non-binary, or genderqueer. It is important to remember that trans identities are diverse. Trans people may identify in many different ways (Stonewall.org, 2019).
TDOV is a day to show your support for the trans community. It aims to bring attention to the accomplishments of trans people around the globe bringing awareness to transgender identities, achievements, and community.
Rachel Crandall, an American transgender activist, launched the day in 2009 as a response to transgender people's poor recognition and acceptance. At the time, the only well-known trans-centered day was the Transgender Day of Remembrance, which commemorated transgender persons who had been murdered but did not honour or celebrate surviving transgender people. Transgender Day of Visibility was established as a day to honour and celebrate transgender people in a positive light (Transgender Day of Visibility, 2022).
Ways to celebrate TDOV include:
- Educate yourself and share that knowledge across your networks. A good place to start is Humber Library’s 2SLGBTQ+ Education Guide. Toronto Public Library also has a helpful resource.
- Check your networks and see if you are following trans creators, educators, and artists. Amplify those voices today and beyond.
References
Stonewall.org. (2019, March 27). What does trans mean? Retrieved from Stonewall.org: https://www.stonewall.org.uk/what-does-trans-mean
Transgender Day of Visibility. (2022, March). Retrieved from National Today: https://nationaltoday.com/transgender-day-visibility