Transgender Day of Visibility is a time for celebration. It was originally created by Rachel Crandall-Crocker, a psychotherapist and international trans activist. It started in 2009 with a Facebook post encouraging people to organize their own festivities, and has since grown into an international celebration. Trans Day of Visibility now takes place every March 31 to raise awareness and acknowledge the struggles and successes of the trans community.
According to Statistics Canada, 62 percent of trans and non-binary people are under 35. On average, Canadians age 15 and older are 48.0, while trans people are on average 39.4. Though the experiences of trans youth are important, Broadview wanted to highlight the stories of trans people who transitioned later in life and are marking their journeys by sharing their stories on Twitter.
Dozens of people posted Friday about their later-in-life transitions, including user Jadzia Dani, who said she started transitioning in 2019 at the age of 44.
Despite describing it as, “the scariest thing I’d ever done and the hardest,” she considers it the best thing she’s ever done, and encourages others to keep going.
I started transitioning in 2019. I was 44 years old. I knew I couldn’t live that lie a day longer. It was the scariest thing I’d ever done and the hardest.
— JadziaDani (@JadziaDani) March 30, 2023
And also the best.
Keep going. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/KoLa60qsqV
Alexander Hermann started transitioning in 2018 at the age of 56. He states, “I knew I couldn’t live that lie a day longer,” so he did what was best for him and also now encourages others.
I started transitioning in 2018. I was 54 years old. I knew I couldn’t live that lie a day longer. It was the scariest thing I’d ever done and the hardest.
And also the best.
Keep going. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/6a4zntrl8c
— Alexander Herrmann He/They (@lothie) March 31, 2023
Twitter user Jane’s Journey started transitioning in 2013 at the age of 48, saying she was tired of living someone else’s life. Despite the challenges, she says she’s now happier than ever and that if her visibility is an act of defiance, she stands proud.
I started transitioning in 2013. I was 48. I was tired of living someone else’s life and wanted to start living my own life. It’s not easy these days but I’ve never been happier. If my visibility is an act of defiance, then here I am. I’m not going back. #TDOV2023 https://t.co/PBhfaJXpxx pic.twitter.com/kwOqlhnsJc
— Jane’s Journey (@JanieGirl1964) March 31, 2023
Junia Joplin started transitioning in 2018 at the age of 39. She describes her transition as “harder than it had any right to be, cost me more than it ought to have, & exposed me to trauma like I’ve ever known.” Despite the many difficulties she faced, she says she would do it all again, and remains hopeful for good things to come. Joplin also co-hosts And Also Some Women, Broadview’s upcoming podcast.
I’m 44. I started transitioning in 2018 at 39.
Transition was harder than it had any right to be, cost me more than it ought to have, & exposed me to trauma like I’ve ever known.
But I did it; I’d do it again.
And guess what? This might be the year things get ok for me.#TDOV pic.twitter.com/VX6UlTzDii
— Juni (@beloved_june) March 31, 2023
More on Broadview:
- Advocates urge Christian university to ‘Do Better for Bekett’ after trans student’s suicide
- Main drag: Meet the reigning queens and kings of small-town Canada
- I’ve lived with mental illness for decades. Finding permanent housing has been a struggle.
The visibility of trans people in the media is now more important than ever. 2023 has proved to be a disastrous year for anti-trans legislation in the United States, with over 250 bills now active in the U.S. across 38 states. These include those that scale back healthcare and parental rights.
But amidst these attacks, many bravely continue to be visible and stand up for their rights. Ultimately, there’s still much to celebrate. As the many Trans Day of Visibility posts have shown, many people continue to make personal triumphs every day. Social media has allowed people to connect with others in new ways and shows individuals they’re never alone.
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Alexandra Lee is an intern at Broadview.
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