What is Trans Visibility? |07 April 2021

Last week, on March 31, the world observed Transgender Visibility Day. But even with a day dedicated to it, most people still don’t know what a transgender person is.

Everyone has a deep-rooted sense of their own gender. For most people, their gender identity will match the sex recorded on their birth certificate when they were born. But for some, their assigned sex isn’t true to who they really are. This is often referred to as being trans or transgender.

Here in Seychelles being trans is still a taboo subject; we know they exist and we know that there are trans people in the community, however it is a topic that we do not talk about.

Trans people are much more likely to be bullied, assaulted than other people. Inflammatory media coverage and rhetoric from political and community leaders make already-hostile environments even worse. This hostility towards trans people is often even codified into laws that bar trans people from exercising basic rights.

For example, in Seychelles and in most countries, it’s impossible for trans people to have their gender identity recognised on official identity documents such as passports and drivers’ licenses. In the relatively few places where it is permitted, it often comes with terrible preconditions, such as sterilisation and forced divorce. Without proper identity documents, trans people are excluded from many every day activities – from opening a bank account, and applying for a job, to renting a home or travelling to another country.

Living life openly as your true self is something most people take for granted. For trans people this can be very dangerous. Living authentically – simply being visible – takes an enormous amount of courage. But with the increased visibility of trans people in our communities, the media and public life, comes awareness and changing attitudes – which is key to securing trans people’s fundamental rights.

It’s time to stop vilifying those who are different from ourselves. It’s time to stand up for the rights of the trans community. It’s time to celebrate trans visibility!

Christophe Zialor

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Last week, on March 31, the world observed Transgender Visibility Day. But even with a day dedicated to it, most people still don’t know what a transgender person is.

Everyone has a deep-rooted sense of their own gender. For most people, their gender identity will match the sex recorded on their birth certificate when they were born. But for some, their assigned sex isn’t true to who they really are. This is often referred to as being trans or transgender.

Here in Seychelles being trans is still a taboo subject; we know they exist and we know that there are trans people in the community, however it is a topic that we do not talk about.

Trans people are much more likely to be bullied, assaulted than other people. Inflammatory media coverage and rhetoric from political and community leaders make already-hostile environments even worse. This hostility towards trans people is often even codified into laws that bar trans people from exercising basic rights.What is Trans Visibility?

For example, in Seychelles and in most countries, it’s impossible for trans people to have their gender identity recognised on official identity documents such as passports and drivers’ licenses. In the relatively few places where it is permitted, it often comes with terrible preconditions, such as sterilisation and forced divorce. Without proper identity documents, trans people are excluded from many every day activities – from opening a bank account, and applying for a job, to renting a home or travelling to another country.

Living life openly as your true self is something most people take for granted. For trans people this can be very dangerous. Living authentically – simply being visible – takes an enormous amount of courage. But with the increased visibility of trans people in our communities, the media and public life, comes awareness and changing attitudes – which is key to securing trans people’s fundamental rights.

It’s time to stop vilifying those who are different from ourselves. It’s time to stand up for the rights of the trans community. It’s time to celebrate trans visibility!

Christophe Zialor