On Transgender Day of Visibility, Trans Equality Together highlights the need to listen to transgender voices

Dedicated to a day dedicated to raising awareness for transgender discrimination, March 31st is the International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV).

Recognising TDOV also means that lifting up trans voices in Ireland must be made a priority, especially when discussing trans rights. At the moment, trans voices are being overlooked in a continuous national debate concerning their rights, their safety, and the foundations of their lives.

“Trans people in Ireland are a tiny minority of the population whose voices have rarely been heard in national discourse," says Tina Kolos Orban in a recent statement for Trans Equality Together, a coalition led by trans rights organisations TENI, Belong To, and LGBT Ireland.

They are the CEO of TENI, the Transgender Equality Network Ireland, which "supports, educates, and advocates for the rights of trans people and their families." Kolos Orban also works as a Co-Director of Trans Equality Together. 31 civil society organisations work as members in the coalition to make Ireland a better and safer space for trans and non-binary people.

In honour of TDOV and as a way to combat the lack of trans voices' visibility, the coalition is encouraging people to share messages of equality, inclusion, and solidarity with trans and nonbinary people on Twitter.

Make a sign with your message, snap a photo and share using the hashtags #TDOV and #TDOVIE23 – we might even repost your photos! #TDOV #TDOVIE23 🧵2/2

— TransEqualityTogether (@TransEqTogether) March 30, 2023

Trans Equality Together launched last year with the aim to create an Ireland "where trans and non-binary people are equal, safe and valued." Other objectives include:

1 - Promoting positive attitudes towards trans and non-binary people

2 - Countering the negative and false messages about trans people that have been circulating in recent years

3 - Advocating for policy and legislative changes that will improve the lives of trans people and make Ireland a more equal society for all.

"Every week in the media, there are stories about us," Kolos Orban continues. "Glaringly missing from these stories are trans voices. We need to hear the lived experience of trans people, rather than hearing people debate our existence and create policies that impact our lives, often with little or no engagement with the trans community.”

The coalition reports a higher state of fear and anxiety within the trans and non-binary community, stemming from being forced to watch as their lives and rights be debated nationally and internationally.

The CEO of LGBT Ireland and Co-Director of Trans Equality Together, Paula Fagan, elaborates that “Most people in Ireland don’t personally know someone who is trans, which means that the public learns about trans topics from the media."

On Trans Day of Visibility, we celebrate the trans community & their contributions to our society.

We also acknowledge the increased discrimination they face & commit to challenging the marginalization they too frequently endure.#TDOVIE23 @TransEqTogether #TDOV2023 pic.twitter.com/R2nfnt9XG1

— LGBT Ireland (@LGBT_ie) March 31, 2023

"The trans community has been misrepresented, stereotyped and demonised in the press," she says. "This impacts how people think about and act towards this minority population who experience high levels of harassment and violence.”

Violence against LGBTQ+ people reportedly reached an all-time high in 2022. Earlier this year, Brianna Ghey, a 16-year-old transgender girl was murdered in the UK. While vigils were held across the UK and Ireland in her memory, it doesn't erase the tragedy of her loss, nor the unfounded hatred that perpetuated it.

The organisation Belong To is dedicated to protecting LGBTQ+ children in schools and has previously advocated for including the discussion of trans youth in schools to reduce negative stigma and support those who may be questioning their identities.

“Trans Day of Visibility is about recognising a community that is too often underrepresented and misrepresented," says Moninne Griffith. In addition to working as the CEO of Belong To, she is  another Co-Director of Trans Equality Together.

"By not getting to participate in decision-making and discussions themselves, trans people are sidelined and dehumanised. We need to remember that trans people are in our workplaces, schools and communities. They are human beings who deserve to be respected and have their voices heard."

LGBT Ireland offers a National LGBT+ Helpline available 7 days a week, available at 1800-929-539.

Also offered is a Transgender Family Support Line, available from Tuesday 10AM to 12PM and Sunday 6PM to 9PM at 01-907-3707.