Members of the township’s Human Rights Advisory Council accepted a proclamation acknowledging International Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31.
Evesham Township Council used a portion of its meeting earlier this month to recognize International Transgender Day of Visibility.
The annual observance takes place around the world on March 31 to raise awareness of the transgender community. It also celebrates the lives and contributions of trans people, while drawing attention to the disproportionate levels of poverty, discrimination and violence they face compared with individuals who identify with their sex at birth.
International Transgender Day was created in 2010 by advocate and Transgender Michigan head Rachel Crandall, a response to the overwhelming majority of media stories about transgender people focused on violence. She hoped to create an observance for people to celebrate being transgender, while acknowledging that due to discrimination, not every trans person can or wants to be visible.
With members of the township Human Rights Advisory Council in attendance at the meeting to receive a council proclamation acknowledging Transgender Day, Melissa Firstenberg, a 26-year Evesham resident, advocate for transgender rights and chair of the council, was invited to speak.
“I used to introduce myself as your friendly neighborhood trans woman, but I’m not the only one,” she explained. “We’ve got a couple of other Marlton trans woman here. This is representative of our community. We exist everywhere and we’re staying visible …
“By being visible,” Firstenberg added, “we can create community (and) bonds so that we can live without prejudice (and) discrimination. Because that’s all we really want.”
Mayor Jackie Veasy read the proclamation, which noted that while the day serves as a celebration of personal and community accomplishments, it is also a reminder of the ongoing work needed to combat trans violence and discrimination.
“Not only does this day recognize the generations of struggle, activism, and courage of transgender citizens who strive for equality, but it also recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of our fellow citizens and increases awareness of the work that still needs to be done to address anti-transgender violence, civil rights barriers and discrimination,” the mayor read from the proclamation.
“Our transgender and gender diverse community members deserve inclusivity, respect and a safe place to thrive,” she added. “It’s the role of our representatives and members of this community to do their part to make this a reality and ensure the transgender community the freedoms that fellow Americans enjoy.”
