March 2021 Issue
FEATURES NEWS
We Need More Than Just Visibility written by Jesse Castelano
Celebrated on March 31, Transgender Day of Visibility is an international day of raising awareness, honoring, and uplifting the voices of people within the transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse groups. Its history dates back to 2009, where Rachel Crandall-Crocker, the executive director of Transgender Michigan, initiated the said international observance. During that period, the only annual event the community commemorates was the Transgender Day of Remembrance. A day to pay tribute to the lives of our fallen brothers and sisters who we have lost in the accounts of hate crimes and transphobia. Hence, Crandall-Crocker's idea of Transgender Day of Visibility came from wanting to "celebrate the living." The community's visibility is flourishing progressively year by year. In the Philippines, just last year witnessed the crowning of Mela Habijan as Miss Trans Global 2020. Leyna Bloom, a Black and Filipina American model, made history as the first transgender woman of color in Sports Illustrated’s acclaimed Swimsuit Issue. Dominique Castelano, the first openly Transpinay to take part in an advertisement for Maybelline. Isabel Sandoval, who won the best actress at the Pacific Meridian International Film Festival for her act in “Lingua Franca.” Our community has also continued to make political history. Primarily, the passing of the SOGIE Equality Bill working draft during the 17th Congress after being pending for nineteen years. Nevertheless, we cannot truly celebrate the transgender community without recognizing the work that still needs to be realized. Transgender people are still subjected to multiple facets of discrimination, harassment, violence, and denial of basic human rights, among other things. We know this day that visibility in itself is not enough. We must come together to end discrimination against gender diversity. We need to strengthen our allyship in promoting transgender rights. Let us continue to nurture a society where people like me are celebrated and not looked down upon. Today, I challenge you to take one step for trans liberation and equality.
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