What is International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV)?

With an estimated 1.6 million people in the U.S., ages 13 and over, who identify as transgender, it’s more important than ever to raise awareness of transgender issues and ensure visibility and inclusivity in our workplaces.

Believe it or not, more than one in four transgender people report having lost a job due to transphobia and bias. And more than 3/4 have experienced some form of discrimination at work, according to the National Center for Transgender Equality. Awareness, understanding and formal policies must be created to minimize these numbers.

What is International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV)?

International Transgender Day of Visibility was first recognized in 2009 by transgender advocate Rachel Crandall as a way to show support for transgender people and to bring attention to the discrimination they often face.

When is International Transgender Day of Visibility?

TDOV is now observed annually on March 31 as a day to celebrate the achievements and contributions of transgender people and to raise awareness of continued challenges.

TDOV is important for a number of reasons:

• It raises visibility and awareness of the transgender community.
• It’s an opportunity to educate people about the realities of being transgender.
• It helps create a more inclusive and accepting society.
• It gives visibility and a sense of representation to transgender people.
• It helps transgender people feel supported.
• It’s a reminder that, despite the progress made, there’s still a lot of work to be done to achieve full acceptance, equality and protection for the transgender community.

How can you celebrate International Transgender Day of Visibility at work?

Celebrating TDOV is an important step that employers can take to show support to their transgender employees and create a more inclusive and accepting workplace.

Here are 7 ways you can celebrate TDOV in your workplace:

1. Create a safe and inclusive work environment for transgender people.

You can create a safe and inclusive work environment for transgender people by providing training to employees on transgender issues, including educating them about the importance of using appropriate pronouns and gender-neutral language.

Offering a platform for transgender employees to share their stories and experiences (if they want to) can help others understand the challenges their colleagues face. However, be careful not to out any transgender people or to push them into the spotlight if they don’t want to be there.

2. Encourage the sharing of pronouns.

Making it common for people to share their pronouns can make it easier for transgender people to share theirs. Pronouns can be included in email signatures, in company intranet profiles and within the name sections on Zoom.

Even as you encourage sharing pronouns, it should always be optional. No one should ever be pressured to share personal information they don’t want to share.

3. Review your company’s policies related to gender equity.

TDOV is a good annual reminder to review your current policies and practices to ensure you’re inclusive of transgender employees, and that they’re proactively protected from discrimination and harassment in the workplace.

4. Allow flexibility in dress codes and name change.

As an employer, being flexible when it comes to dress codes at work, and allowing employees to wear clothing that aligns with their gender identities, is a good way to show your support of an inclusive workplace.

Likewise, it’s important to be supportive and responsive when employees request to change their names and other identity-related information on company records.

5. Provide all-gender restrooms.

Going to the bathroom shouldn’t be stressful. Ensuring there are all-gender restrooms available in the workplace is an important step in being inclusive of all genders.

6. Advocate for transgender rights.

Be the vocal leader. Once you’ve taken steps to ensure transgender inclusivity and equity at your company, encourage other companies to do the same.

Show your commitment to creating a safe and inclusive environment for all employees — because visibility leads to acceptance and acceptance leads to equity, inclusion and belonging.

7. Educate employees on transgender issues.

When it comes to educating employees on transgender issues, Electives classes are a great way to raise awareness and inspire action. They encourage people to have open conversations and share and embrace their cultural differences, so others can learn from their personal experiences.

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