Happy TDOV Day! Transgender Day of Visibility That Is…Make a Difference.

TDOV (SPELL IT OUT, what is it?) is a day to show your support for the trans community. Whether you know a transgender person personally, or just want to show your support for people living as their true selves, TDOV is a chance to learn, accept and celebrate.  

What does it mean to be Transgender/Trans?

  • Transgender/Trans: an umbrella term for people who do not identify with the gender they were assigned at birth (male, female, intersex).  Gender Identity is someone’s personal sense of their own gender and where they identify on the gender spectrum of male and female. For Transgender people, the sex they were assigned at birth and their own internal gender identity may not always match up. 

 

Words matter. To show your support and solidarity, you can use:

  • Transgender instead of “transgendered”
  • Trans instead of “Tranny”
  • Genderqueer
  • Gender Non-Conforming
  • Transsexual

 

**Always use the descriptive term preferred by the individual. If you’re not 100% sure which term(s) or pronoun(s) to use – like she/he, him/her - listen first, then ask the individual what they prefer.

 

Did You Know?

  • 80% of trans students feel unsafe at school because of their gender expression
  • 41% of trans people have attempted suicide
  • 1 in 5 transgender people have experienced homelessness at some point in their lives

 

Speaking out, taking direct action, and educating others is critical to the safety and wellbeing of the trans community. Knowing the facts and some of the challenges the Transgender community faces on a daily basis can help us become better allies and advocate for and support the rights of transgender people in our lives and communities.

 

Tips for Allies of Transgender People

  1. You can’t tell if someone is transgender just by looking
  2. Don’t make assumptions about a transgender person’s sexual orientation
  3. Don’t ask a transgender person what their “real name” is
  4. Respect the terminology a transgender person uses to describe their identity
  5. Don’t ask about a transgender person’s genitals, surgical status, or sex life
  6. Listen to Transgender people and support what they need to feel safe and empowered


This blog was reposted from TeenSource.org, a project of Essential Access Health. TeenSource.org is an online hub for comprehensive and teen-friendly information on birth control, STDs, relationships and teen’s rights to accessing sensitive services. The site features youth-developed blogs and videos, a clinic finder, a Condom Access Project and links to TeenSource social media where youth can stay updated on relevant sexual and reproductive health information and news.


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