Statement from Minister McLean on the International Transgender Day of Visibility

Minister responsible for the Women and Gender Equity Directorate Jeanie McLean has issued the following statement:

“Today we mark the annual International Transgender Day of Visibility, a day to honour and celebrate the lives, contributions and resilience of transgender individuals in our communities and around the world.

“The International Transgender Day of Visibility was founded in 2009 by Rachel Crandall-Crocker, an American transgender activist, as a way to uplift and empower transgender people.

“It serves as a counterbalance to the Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day dedicated to honouring transgender individuals who experience violence or who have been killed because of their gender identity.

“Today is a celebration of the accomplishments, strengths and perseverance of transgender people. In my role as Minister responsible for the Women and Gender Equity Directorate, I have seen firsthand their contributions to the Yukon. The Yukon is a better, more inclusive, diverse and vibrant community because of these contributions.

“A key part of today’s celebration is the concept of visibility. Visibility is a powerful tool. It is about being seen and heard for who you truly are – an essential part of human dignity.

“However, visibility is often a privilege. While many cisgender people can take visibility for granted, the choice to be visible as a transgender person is more complex and we must also acknowledge that for many transgender individuals, visibility can come with real risks.

“This is particularly true today when across both the United States and Canada, transgender rights are increasingly under attack, with policies and legislation threatening to reverse the hard-won rights of transgender people.

“These transphobic policies and legislation not only seek to erase transgender identities but also contribute to a climate where transgender individuals face higher risks of violence and discrimination than they already experienced. These policies threaten the progress our society has made over the years to respect transgender rights. They also show flagrant disregard for our society’s collective responsibility to respond to a person’s visibility – their sharing of their authentic and true selves – with respect, acceptance and protection.

“Knowing this, I encourage Yukoners to make their allyship of transgender people stronger. Stand in allyship with transgender Yukoners, today and every day. Let us raise our voices louder in support of transgender rights. Let us take more actions to end transphobia. Through our shared commitment, we can help build a society where all transgender individuals can live openly, authentically and safely, without fear of harm or marginalization. This is the Yukon I want to live in.

“And to our transgender friends, family and neighbours, know that we see you, we stand with you and we will continue working together to help ensure that every transgender person can live free from fear and full of possibility.”