By Newsdesk
Transgender individuals face abuse, violence and abandonment due to rigid notions about heteronormativity.
This discrimination impacts trans people’s opportunities and drives poverty
Founded by US-based transgender activist Rachel Crandall, International Transgender Day of Visibility is marked on March 31 every year, with the aim to celebrate transgender individuals’ contributions to society.
The day also calls upon us to counter the homophobic, biphobic and transphobic social attitudes that inflict incredible harm on the lives of LGBTQ+ individuals across the globe.
The transgender community is an important part of cultures, but awareness of trans issues is inadequate.
Sadly, trans individuals are seen as a threat to cultural values by some people.
The latter often try to rationalise discrimination against trans people as a means to protect their beliefs in the name of tradition and culture.
What is even more shocking is that this hatred is often codified into legal statutes that prevent trans people from exercising their basic human rights.
Regardless of how diverse the beliefs, values and opinions of people are, tradition and culture cannot be used as a licence to discriminate against anyone.
Discrimination is disastrous.
Transgender individuals face abuse, violence and abandonment due to rigid notions about heteronormativity.
To be singled out and bullied at school/college, at home and in the community for defying gender stereotypes is a brutality that deprives non-binary individuals of their fundamental right to live free and equal in dignity.
Individuals who face this kind of violence are at a higher risk of loneliness, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression and suicide. Furthermore, this discrimination also impacts trans people’s opportunities, and drives poverty, lack of social support systems and compromised health outcomes.
