Today is International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV), an annual event dedicated to celebrating transgender people and raising awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide, as well as a celebration of their contributions to society.

Whether you’re transgender, gender non-conforming (GNC) or an ally, join Georgia Equality in sending a note to your state legislator. We must make sure they know that transgender Georgians are important to our communities, and they deserve protection from discrimination in state law.

According to the National Center for Transgender Equality’s 2015 US Transgender Survey,

• 1 in 3 transgender or gender non-conforming Georgians reported being fired, denied a promotion or experiencing some other form of mistreatment related to their gender identity or expression in the workplace
• 80% of trans/GNC Georgians reported experiencing harassment in an education setting between Kindergarten and Grade 12
• 1 in 3 trans/GNC Georgians have experienced homelessness in their lifetime
• Half of trans/GNC Georgians avoid the use of public restrooms for fear of harassment
• 45% of trans/ GNC Georgians did not see a doctor in the previous year because they could not afford it, and 26% reported not seeing a doctor because of fear of mistreatment

Transgender Georgians, especially those who fall at the intersection of multiple marginalized communities must be protected from discrimination in state law. Everyone should feel safe accessing public spaces, getting an education, securing a place to live, and working to support themselves and their families. 

Please join us today in sending a message to your representatives for #TDOV letting them know that we can do better for trans/GNC Georgians.