Trans Day of Visibility
- Autumn Devitt
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
March 31st is International Transgender Day of Visibility! Today we celebrate the lives, resilience, and achievements of our trans and gender nonconforming neighbors and loved ones.
Fun Fact:
North Carolina has one of the highest percentages of trans residents per capita in the United States. (source)
A Few Notable Trans Southerners from the Past and Present
Jackie Shane, an American soul and rhythm and blues singer born in Nashville, TN and best known for her 1963 hit “Any Other Way.”
SamLevi Middleton-Sizemore, a UNC Chapel Hill graduate, artist, and writer whose work explores themes of religion, sexuality, gender, and disability justice.
G. Samantha Rosenthal, Ph.D., a journalist, historian, and award-winning author amplifying queer voices in the South.
Hunter Schafer, a UNCSA alum and activist best known for her roles in Euphoria, Cuckoo, and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Frances Thompson , a formerly enslaved anti-rape activist who testified before congress about the Memphis massacre
Local Organizations that Support and Celebrate the Trans Community
North Star LGBTQ+ Community Center aims to, “to foster community across intersecting identities through advocacy, compassion, education, and service.” They offer a variety of services, including support groups, social meetups, a lending library, and a database of local LGBTQ+ affirming healthcare providers, legal support, faith communities, and other organizations/resources.
The Guilford Green Foundation and LGBTQ Center in Greensboro provides, “resources, programs, and support for LGBTQ People,” including, “resources and programs on a broad range of topics, such as healthcare, knowing your legal rights and self-advocacy, aging, financial planning, or transgender issues.”
OUT at the Movies International Film Festival is a nonprofit founded in Winston-Salem that is, “committed to celebrating the finest LGBTQ+ film from around the world, and building a stronger community in the process.”
Regional/National Organizations
Campaign For Southern Equality aims to, “build a South where LGBTQ+ people are equal in every sphere of life” through a variety of means, including advocacy, legal support, and research. Their “Trans in the South” guide is a great resource for finding trans-affirming healthcare providers and legal resources.
Trans Lifeline is a trans-led organization that “connects trans people to the community, support, and resources they need to survive and thrive.”
Point of Pride “provides financial aid and direct support to trans folks in need of health and wellness care.” This care includes free chest binders and financial support for HRT and gender affirming surgery.
The Trans Justice Funding Project is a “community-led funding initiative founded in 2012 to support grassroots, trans justice groups run by and for trans people in the United States, including U.S. territories."
PFLAG is “the nation's largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them.” PFLAG has chapters in Greensboro, Lexington, Salisbury, and other surrounding counties.
Other organizations engaging in advocacy efforts and offering scholarship opportunities to trans students and activists
Our community is enriched and strengthened by the lives and actions of our transgender neighbors. For cisgender allies wanting to show support, please consider donating to one of the organizations listed above, exploring your own gender identity and biases, engaging with art (of all sorts) created by trans folx, and advocating (year round!) for a world that supports and nurtures the safety, success, and joy of our trans neighbors.
Autumn Devitt, LMFT, LCAS
Autumn currently works with adolescents and adults ages 16 and up on a variety of issues, including anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship stress, self-esteem, ADHD, and substance abuse. Autumn uses an eclectic, systems based approach. This means that she will help you explore and gain insight into how you are impacted by the people and systems you interact with regularly and tailor her approach to your specific needs.
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