Transgender Day of Visibility

Walnut Creek Civic Park, Hosted by Rainbow Community Center and the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County

A number of speakers and representatives of the transgender community, support organizations, and welcoming and accepting faith based groups spoke at the Walnut Creek Transgender Day of Visibility.  The MDUUC LGBTQ & FRIENDS committee was represented as well, and passed out TRANS PRIDE bracelets.  

The MDUUC Congregation had written supporting notes for the transgender community during services for the previous Sunday, and these were strung together and hung about the gazebo, along with Trans Pride flags and balloons.

Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) is a day to show your support for the trans community! Every March 31st, it aims to bring attention to the accomplishments of trans people everywhere while fighting cissexism and transphobia by spreading understanding of trans people. Unlike Transgender Day of Remembrance, this is not a day for mourning: this is a day to be empowered and give the recognition trans folks deserve! Visibility is not about being seen as an individual: it’s working together to transform society.

Rachel Crandall, the head of Transgender Michigan, created in TDOV in 2009 to celebrate the trans community in a positive light. Read more about it here. Since 2013, Trans Student Educational Resources has taken over most social media, promotion, and outreach for TDOV.

This year’s theme is “surviving, thriving” (#TransThriving). This acknowledges the number of major transgender achievements in the past 12 months. We are not only surviving the current administration, but we are making strides to transform how people think about gender around the world. In the increasingly transphobic global political climate, we must use our newfound visibility to mobilize trans people against oppression. Speaking out, taking direct action, and educating others is critical to our safety and wellbeing. This recognizes that while visibility is important, we must take action against transphobia. Visibility is not enough alone to bring transgender liberation. However, we can use visibility as a vital tool for transgender justice.

Make It So Social Dinner & Dance Event

The “MAKE IT SO SOCIAL” dinner & dance was well received by all. Everyone loved the food, music, percussion instruments, dance instruction, and the friendly people attending. It was a fun and friendly crowd!

As you can see….it takes a village!!!  Our gratitude and appreciation for all who helped toward our goal to Make It So: 2020:

DJ: Kaleo Ching

Drumming/Percussion: Mary Ferrick

Dance Instruction: Terese & Kevin McGregor

Cooks: Melissa Allen, Michelle Paquette

Food Displayed: Peggy Kern Payne

Flower Deco for tables : Suzanne Lofquist (flower arrangement), Nancy (setup)

Bead Deco for Tables: Claudia Lorie, Peggy Kern Payne

Greeters: Natalie Malter, Rev. Neal Anderson

Registration: Claudia Lorie, Elsie Miller, Trudy Foote

Mount Banners/SJ Table Setup:  Peggy Kern Payne, Elsie Mills

Cleanup Crew: Melissa Allen, Michelle Paquette, Peggy Kern Payne, Claudia Lorie, Elsie Mills, Nancy Newhart, Natalie Malter and many of our wonderful guests helped stack chairs

Tablecloth Laundry: Elsie Mills, Claudia Lorie

Organization/Advertising/Event Signage: Nancy Newhart

We had roughly 75 attendees out of 87 signups, including walk-ins. 45 were visitors, 18 members, 12 helpers (who were busy working most of the time vs socializing). We would like to see more members per visitor with the goal to have visitors return seeing more familiar faces.