MADISON, Wis. — Monday, March 31 marks International Transgender Day of Visibility. The annual event has celebrated the transgender community since 2009.
Becca Bedell, with OutReach LGBT Community Center, said while the day is one of the most important days for the community, it’s also a double-edged sword.
“Visibility is both a beautiful, beautiful stepping stone into increased understanding of our community, and it can also be taxing and exhausting for our community,” Bedell said.
Bedell said OutReach LGBT Community Center is working to create a balance of cultivating a safe space and recognizing the need for rest, all while continuing to educate others.
Bedell said one of the best ways for people to show allyship is to get involved with the transgender community and learn people’s stories.
“It sounds a little obvious or straightforward, but I think a lot of the fear and division that we’re seeing around the trans community right now simply stems from a lack of understanding,” Bedell said. “I think getting to know the trans people in our lives, in the media, hearing our stories, understanding the nuances and the depths of who we are as people, it’s a huge way to start.”
Watch the full interview above.
Aly Prouty - Digital Media Producer
Aly Prouty is a digital producer for Spectrum News 1 Wisconsin, Ohio and Kentucky. An award-winning, multimedia journalist, she holds an honors B.A. in journalism from Marquette University and an M.A. in journalism and media studies from The University of Alabama.
