Transgender Day of Visibility raises awareness about the struggles facing transgender community

It's an international day to recognize the transgender community and to raise awareness about the struggles that they face.

News 12 Staff

Mar 31, 2023, 10:33 AM

Updated 552 days ago

Share:

Today is Transgender Day of Visibility.
It's an international day to recognize the transgender community and to raise awareness about the struggles that they face.
LOFT, an LGBTQ community services center in Westchester County, says today is a day for people who don't identify with their gender assigned at birth to celebrate their presence in society. "We're here and we accomplish things just like everybody else. We have jobs and we also celebrate the contributions of trans people," says Anthony Arrien, a LOFT board member.
But the transgender community faces many obstacles in society - from discrimination, mental health problems and violence.
"There are so many obstacles that a trans person can face in today's world right now because you can see it with bills being passed or laws put in place that actively harm not only people who are currently trans, but trans youth. Even young people are afraid to tell their parents or be outed to their parents that their trans because it could affect getting to live there," explains Arrien,
The LOFT Center in White Plains has many programs that service LGBTQ plus community both locally and abroad. Those services include support groups for transgender people and their loved ones.
The center's representatives say that the best way others can show support for the trans community is - be respectful of preferred pronouns and simply displaying the trans colors or flag at your business - to show it's a safe space for them.