Part of what the LGBTQ+ liaison does is provide education and awareness about the community. Below are some places to get started or lean more.

Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE)

Conceived in 2022, Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE) was officially created in February 2024, when Texas state officials directed state child protection workers to investigate parents who were suspected of having provided their children with medically necessary transition-related healthcare. It was the first time state officials had ordered this kind of investigation, and it represented a new, extremely frightening level of danger to our community.

Leveraging decades of experience on the frontlines of power, we are working to shift government and society towards a future where transgender individuals are completely equal to any other individuals. In addition to A4TE, 2024 brought forth the merger between the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) and the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (TLDEF), combining two hard-working champions of the community into one even stronger organization.

All of this is based on the ability of members and supporters of the trans community to boldly imagine a world where trans people live joyfully and without barriers. https://transequality.org/

International Transgender Visibility Day

March 31st is a big day in the transgender community: International Transgender Day of Visibility.

The day, which is observed around the world, is dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments and victories of transgender and gender-expansive people, while simultaneously raising awareness of the work that is still needed to combat discrimination and violence.

TDOV was founded in 2009 by US-based transgender activist Rachel Crandall, a licensed psychotherapist and Executive Director of Transgender Michigan, both of which were conceived in reaction to the lack of LGBTQ+ days of recognition, as well as the frustration that the only well-known transgender-centered day of recognition was Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR).

Having a day dedicated to those who have been the victims of violence simply for living their fullest lives is wonderful, but having it as the only acknowledgment of trans-gender life distressed her. She wanted to recognize the ordinary and joyful moments too.

Today, TDOV is a much-needed day of empowerment, celebrating the lives and achievements of all transgender and gender-expansive people.

Susan Oser
Advocacy LGBTQ+

Article sources:

• https://pflag.org/transgender-day-of-visibility/
• https://pflag.org/tdov-social-toolkit/
• https://www.transgendermichigan.org/ visibility
• https://glaad.org/tdov/

Good LGBTQ+ News

• We’re still gay & we’re still fabulous”: Shop owners fight vandalism with positivity & humor - https://tinyurl.com/3wf626dr
• The surprising way a professor and her students are preserving centuries of LGBTQ+ history – https://tinyurl.com/22b5sm3z
• Building (Rainbow) Bridges Across Michigan's Upper Peninsula - https:// tinyurl.com/88hhm47r

LGBTQ+ Dates for March

• Mar 1: Zero Discrimination Day
• Mar 4: International HPV Awareness Day
• Mar 10: National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
• Mar 16-20: National LGBT Health Awareness Week
• Mar 20: Two-Spirit & Indigenous LGBTQ Awareness Day
• Mar 31: International Transgender Visibility Day
• Mar 31: Transgender Youth Day
• March is also Bisexual Health Awareness Month and Women’s History Month

IMPORTANT LGBTQ+ HOTLINES & RESOURCES FOR ALLIES TOO

• 100 Organizations Supporting Trans People in All 50 States—donations welcome: https://tinyurl.com/3vdz89e5
• Ali Forney Day Center: 212.206.0574
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): 800.342.AIDS (2437), Spanish 800.344432
• TDD service for the deaf: 800.243.7889. All lines available 10:00am to 10:00pm EST, Monday through Friday.
• Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender National Hotline: 888.843.4564
• GLBT National Youth Talkline (youth serving youth through age 25): 800.246.7743
• Guide to Being an Ally to LGBTQ+ People: https://tinyurl.com/ycy8eezz
• Journalist Resource Series: Guide for Reporting on Anti-Trans Violence:
• https://tinyurl.com/53cbmkj8 National Runaway Switchboard: 800.RUNAWAY (786.2929)
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800.273.8255
• Transgender Michigan: 855-345-TGMI (8464)
• Trevor Project: 866.488.7386