To commemorate and amplify International Day of Transgender Visibility, The National Trans Visibility March (NTVM) is announcing the theme guiding its initiatives and goals for the 2024 march. This year, the efforts of NTVM will be anchored in the theme “Illuminate. Educate. Advocate: A Future We Can Be Proud Of!”. These three pillars set a cohesive theme and clear goal for this year’s National Trans Visibility March in September, held in Washington, DC. Illuminate, educate, and advocate will be the common threads unifying NTVM as they continue working to create a future that will make transgender individuals proud of their community.
- Illuminate: In 2024, the march will focus on the importance of shedding light on transgender experiences and challenges—particularly the need for greater political visibility. Illuminate highlights the need for transgender individuals to be visible not only in society but also in the political sphere, where decisions impacting their lives are made.
- Advocate: While raising visibility is vital, advocacy underscores the importance of transgender individuals advocating for their rights through political channels, such as contacting elected officials, participating in grassroots campaigns, and supporting pro-LGBTQ+ candidates.
- Educate: In addition to illuminating and advocating for transgender issues; the 2024 National TransVisibility March will highlight the intersectionality of HIV prevention and education with broader social justice concerns. It emphasizes the need for comprehensive sex education that includes information on HIV prevention, as well as culturally competent healthcare services that are inclusive of transgender
“As I step into this important role, I am filled with a profound sense of purpose and determination,” said Hope Giselle CEO and President of the National Trans Visibility March “Our march, now in its sixth year, converges upon the corridors of power in Washington DC, just as the nation stands on the precipice of a momentous election. This is not just a march; it is a declaration, a demand for recognition, respect, and rights long overdue to the transgender community. I extend my deepest gratitude to Marissa Miller, whose vision and courage birthed this movement. Her trust in my leadership is both an honor and a responsibility I do not take lightly. To our sponsors, whose unwavering support has sustained us over the past five years, I offer my heartfelt thanks. Your contributions have fueled our momentum, and together, we have amplified the voices of the marginalized, challenged prejudice, and sparked vital conversations.”
Each year on March 31, the world observes Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) to raise visibility about transgender people and celebrate the lives and contributions of the trans community. It is also a day to discuss and call attention to the continued discrimination, inequity, and violence that trans people still frequently face. International TDOV was created in
2010 by trans advocate Rachel Crandall in response to the overwhelming majority of media stories about transgender people focused on violence. She hoped to make a day where people could re-focus on celebrating the lives of transgender people.
Giselle continued, “As we embark on this new chapter, know that the National Trans Visibility March stands not just as an event, but as a beacon of hope and solidarity. My commitment to each of you is unwavering: we will be your allies, your advocates, and your partners in progress. Together, we will forge alliances, dismantle barriers, and cultivate a future where every individual is free to live authentically and without fear. In the face of adversity, we find strength. In unity, we find power. And in our collective resolve, we find the spark that ignites revolutions.
Let us march forward, emboldened by our shared purpose, and let our presence in the streets of our capital be a testament to the unstoppable force of change. The time for visibility is now. The time for equality is now. The time for trans lives to be valued and celebrated is now. Join me, join us, as we make history and pave the way towards a brighter, more inclusive tomorrow.”
According to GLAAD, in 2023, more than 500 bills disproportionately targeting LGBTQ youth were introduced in state legislatures to restrict access to health care, school sports,
LGBTQ-inclusive books, school curriculum and conversation, and the bathroom. Now more than ever, it is critical to support and advocate for equality and protection of all Transgender, Gender Nonconforming and Non-Binary (TGNCNB).
To learn more about NTVM and how to support the march, please visit www.nationaltransvisibilitymarch.org.