SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Yesterday, the Minnesota House Queer Caucus joined Outfront Minnesota and advocates to celebrate “Trans Day of Visibility.” On March 31, LGBTQIA2S+ community members observe Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) to raise awareness about and celebrate transgender people. It is a day to uplift the lives and contributions of trans people, while also drawing attention to the poverty, discrimination, and violence the trans community faces.
The Minnesota Queer Legislators Caucus released the following statement:
“On International Transgender Day of Visibility, we celebrate the rich history and invaluable contributions of trans, gender-expansive, and two-spirit individuals to our nation. The trans-liberation movement has enriched our world across various fields, from entertainment, sports, and government to economic development. Last year, the Queer Legislators Caucus spearheaded the fight to protect our trans community by advocating for an Executive Order which led to the passing of the Trans Refuge bill. Minnesota has emerged as a national leader in advancing legislative initiatives to safeguard the rights and well-being of its LGBTQIA2S+ community.
“While we celebrate and acknowledge the progress made in securing the Trans Refuge bill, the journey towards full equality is far from over. The American Civil Liberties Union reports 479 anti-LGBTQ bills have been presented in the U.S. Discrimination and violence continue to plague our community and seek to eradicate the existence of our trans community. Minnesota sent a clear message across the nation that we will not stand by and allow people to be stripped of their dignity, suffer excruciating trauma, and live in fear due to the endless cycles of heinous violence and harm. We will continue to do everything in our power to protect our two-spirit, non-binary, enby, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community so they can live openly without discrimination and embrace their human rights, personal autonomy, and freedom of expression and association. No one deserves to live in fear for wanting to be their authentic selves.”
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