Observed each year on March 31, Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) centres trans lives in the present. Founded in 2009 by Michigan based trans activist Rachel Crandall Crocker, the day was created as a counterpoint to the Transgender Day of Remembrance. Where remembrance marks loss, visibility celebrates resilience, joy and ongoing existence. For TDOV, we asked prominent members of Berlin’s LGBTQ+ scene, “What does TDOV mean to you, and why is it important for the community?”
Papi Pistola, Drag King/Trans Masc “Staying visibly queer is an act of resistance. TDOV is a way to remember that: queer revolution is still in the making and we still need it. I am intentionally visibly trans every day of my life because I want other trans people to find references in an easier way than I did, and because I want the outside world to look at me and see my queer joy and freedom, inspire them too. I genuinely believe that the trans fight goes beyond the queer community. In such a scary world we have no other choice but to stay together and inspire each other. The more we are out there the more we normalise being queer and the more power we have.” @papipistola44
Lola von der Gracht, Artist/Writer/Performer “We have always been here and always will be! We should remind people of that every day and celebrate our existence! TDOV is a reminder that visibility is both powerful and complicated. Being seen can be affirming, but it can also come with risk. That’s why this day matters — it amplifies trans voices, challenges misinformation, and pushes for real structural change. It’s about recognition, but also about protection, rights and justice.” @lolavondergracht
Finn Ballard, Tour Guide “As the rights of trans people continue to diminish internationally, and as we here in Germany see an insidious emboldening of the far right, TDOV is more important than ever. As a historian I find myself looking back keenly to the past and seeking inspiration from the clothes of our trans ancestors in the Berlin of a century past.” @finnballardtours
Jam Rostron, Artist (Planningtorock) “TDOV means a lot to me because my transness wasn’t visible for the majority of my life so it’s a relatively new experience for me. This day also reminds me of the trans people who can’t be visible because it’s too unsafe or because they can’t transition or because they’re transness doesn’t fit into a stereotype of what transness is supposed to look like. So it’s nice to remember that being trans is deeply personal and different for everyone.” @planningtorock
Pansy, Drag Queen “TDOV reminds me that trans* people choose personal happiness over personal safety every day. That is a guiding principle of my daily existence- a life worth living. The most systemically vulnerable among us are the strongest in so many ways. If you do not have trans* people in your life (and are supporting them or speaking up for them when they are not in the room), you are doing it wrong.” @pansypresents
Cormac, Musician/DJ “A trans woman called Alex Silverfish taught me how to mix. The same media narrative used on gays in the 80s, is being run on trans people right now. We don’t get to look away. This is our fight too.” @cormacmusic
Ian Kaler, Choreographer/Filmmaker/Performer/Trans Male “Shoutout to our youngerselves, who find the resiliency to survive and strive, deep appreciation for the ones who show up with love and affirmation, sometimes even before we can (fully) hold that space for ourselves. Gratitude always for the role models, trans elders, their bravery to carve out manifold pathways, made possible to see someone like me.” @iankaler
Faravaz, Artist/Singer/Activist “We all deserve freedom, safety, and the right to exist as we are. TDOV means visibility, dignity, and resistance to me. It reminds us of our ongoing struggles and why we still have to fight. It is a day of protest and solidarity with trans people, who are among the most oppressed and marginalized. No human being is worth less because of their gender.” @faravazmusic
Lucy Lucid Liebe, Musician/Artist “I have a bit of an ambivalent feeling towards this day, since like many of my siblings I had to learn that visibility without protection doesn’t help us as greatly as I once thought. However, I’m hoping that this day will inspire a lot of people to learn more in depth about what the actual needs of our community are and how they can support us beyond our beloved catchphrases.” @turbobiiitch (Her debut album Deadline Season is out now)
TDOV reminds us that as individuals we shine, and as a community we thrive. Without community—and the trans elders who came before—I wouldn’t have had the courage to transition, or the support I needed here in Berlin. I’m grateful for those women and committed to supporting those who come after. Happy Transgender Day of Visibility to all trans people.
