Trans Day of Visibility 2025

A photo from a protest for trans rights in front of the US Supreme Court, January, 2025.

It's the last day of March, which means it is once again Transgender Day of Visibility, or TDOV. For more than a decade, TDOV has provided a celebratory and uplifting day for the trans community, in contrast to November's more solemn Trans Day of Remembrance. While TDOV started off pretty small, these days it receives significant news coverage and participation from all sorts of advocacy nonprofits. Many cities host rallies and protests in support of trans rights, including Chicago, BWC's home. In some ways, the trans community has never been more visible, and we've never had so many vocal allies and supporters.

But being out and visible as a trans person also comes with risks, and many of those risks feel particularly present in right now.

As a company that is trans owned and operated, BWC spends a lot of time thinking about this inherent tension in public advocacy: on the one hand, the more trans people (and allies!) who are out and visible, the harder it is to restrict trans rights. On the other hand, no individual trans person has a responsibility to be out and visible, and many trans people have understandable safety concerns about public advocacy.

For what it's worth, we like to think of this work as a chorus, not a solo. In a chorus, it's okay to pause for a moment and take a breath—you'll be supported by all the other voices who continue to sing. Likewise, while the trans rights movement truly does need each and every one of us to be engaged and take action, it's also crucial that we find moments to charge our batteries, catch our breath, and take care of ourselves. (And maybe celebrate Trans Day of Snack, too.)

With all that in mind, here are few trans rights organizations contributing to the chorus. We've had the privilege to collaborate with all of these orgs, and the work they're doing is crucial right now. We hope you'll check 'em out.

Louisiana Trans Advocates: A trans-lead organization fighting for self-determination and expression for all trans, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming people in Louisiana. BWC has worked with LTA to craft public messaging.

Chicago Therapy Collective: An important advocate for trans rights, CTC works to address "LGBTQIA2S mental health justice in Chicago," including through their Hire Trans and Trans Art Is campaigns.

Basic Rights Oregon: Envisioning an Oregon "in which LGBTQ2SIA+ Oregonians live free from discrimination and are treated with dignity and respect in every community." BWC is working with BRO on an advocacy cohort to train trans community members on skills including storytelling for advocacy, engaging with press, and testifying at public hearings.

Advocates 4 Trans Equality: A merger of the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) and Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (TLDEF), A4TE is a national leader in the fight for trans rights. BWC co-founder Rebecca Kling worked at NCTE during the first Trump administration.