Transgender Day of visibility

March 31st is Transgender Day of Visibility. This day was created by Michigan’s own Rachel Crandall Crocker in 2009. She is the founder and executive director of Transgender Michigan. An organization that focuses on educating the people of Michigan on gender identity and expression as well as injustices that transgender individual and their families face, as well as providing advocacy and support for transgender individuals and those who are perceived as gender variant. In 2021, President Biden federally proclaimed and recognized the day, and it has now been utilized to honor transgender Americans and their contributions. The Transgender Day of Visibility is different from the Transgender Day of Remembrance. The day of remembrance is to honor and remember every person who has been murdered for being themselves. The Day of Visibility is utilized to honor Transgender individuals who have made history and advocated for Transgender rights. 

There is an overrepresentation of LGBTQ+ youth in the child welfare system. According to Youth.gov, “Studies have found that about 30 percent of youth in foster care identify as LGBTQ+ and 5 percent as transgender, in comparison to 11 percent and 1 percent of youth not in foster care.” LBGTQ+ youth may experience different stressors and removal reasons than their peers. A Human Rights Campaign defined these extra stressors as “Many LGBTQ+ youth have the added layer of trauma that comes with being rejected or mistreated because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.” According to the Trevor Project, “28% of LGBTQ youth reported experiencing homelessness or housing instability at some point in their lives — and those who did have two to four times the odds of reporting depression, anxiety, self-harm, considering suicide, and attempting suicide compared to those with stable housing.”

What do we do? How can we improve the outcomes for these youth? One way is to ensure that youth going through the child welfare system have a supportive adult who stays with them for the duration of their case. CASA and our advocates support children regardless of their gender or sexual identity. One of the youths we serve spoke with us about his experience with his CASA. He said, “Everyone deserves one. It’s a whole vibe. They tell important people your side, and you don’t feel alone.” Through CASA’s advocacy, the courtroom uses his preferred pronouns and the name he chose for himself. He is now in a placement that supports and accepts him for himself after several nonsupportive homes and significant mental health concerns. Today, he can thrive, focus on his future, such as what he wants to be when he grows up, and engage in hobbies like drawing. 

At CASA, we know firsthand how critical safety, stability, support, and permanency are to developing minds and strong families. Transgender youth and adults are people, just like any of our CASA children, who deserve a chance to thrive! If you are interested in learning more about this issue and what other advocacy groups are doing. Follow the links below! 

https://www.transgendermichigan.org/ 
https://youth.gov/youth-topics/lgbtq-youth/child-welfare 
https://www.thehrcfoundation.org/professional-resources/lgbtq-youth-in-the-foster-care-system
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/research-briefs  
https://www.saluscenter.org ​