As we commemorate International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) this year, it’s important to recognize what this day means. It’s about more than being visible and celebrating our existence; it’s about fighting for that very right to exist and thrive in a world that is actively trying to erase us.

With the rise in anti-trans legislation across the country, and yet another attempt to eradicate transgender people, I call on all of us to organize and fight to protect and defend the rights of all our siblings.

The rise of trans visibility, especially in the mainstream, has been a double-edged sword. While the transgender experience is more visible than ever on TV, film, and media, we do not see the same advancements in the policies meant to protect all of us. On the one hand, we’ve seen trans people taking up space in Hollywood and being celebrated in the media at a scale unlike before, starting with Laverne Cox’s “Tipping Point” TIME Magazine cover in 2014. And yet, on the other hand, crimes, attacks, and murders of trans people, especially BLACK trans women, have yet to see a decrease. I don’t feel safe in most spaces and go above and beyond to ensure my safety.

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