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The logo of the Equal Opportunities Office at TU Dortmund University
Text: Up to Date, Queer and Feminist Calendar © Borgschulze​/​TU Dortmund
March 31

Transgender Day of Visibility (TDoV)

The Transgender Day of Visibility (TDoV) is dedicated to all trans* people, binary or non-binary. The aim is to raise awareness in society for marginalised gender identities that fall into the trans spectrum.

Rachel Crandall-Crocker, the American activist behind TDoV, has been advocating for trans* people since the 1990s. Growing up in the 1970s in the U.S. Midwest and ostracized by society and her family, she felt very lonely as a trans* woman with Tourette’s. Since coming out in 1993, her goal has been to support and connect trans* people. In 1997, Rachel Crandall-Crocker founded the organization Transgender Michigan (Transgender Michigan, n.d.; Finch, 2018).

Until the late 2000s, the Trans Day of Remembrance was the only international day for trans* people. It is a day of remembrance for all trans* people who were murdered due to anti-trans motives. Rachel Crandall-Crocker recognized that there needed to be a positive counterpart to this day, a day to celebrate the life and diversity of the trans* community. "With unity comes power" said Crandall-Crocker in an interview about the Trans Day of Visibility 2020 (GRTF 2020).

In 2009, she quickly introduced the first Transgender Day of Visibility with a simple Facebook post. However, she had not expected the strong response: Within a very short space of time, the day developed into an international movement and an important day in the LGBTTIAQ+ calendar (ibid.).

If I could do it any loud mouth could do it. (ibid.)

Through social media, Crandall-Crocker's idea spread rapidly and has been celebrated internationally for more than a decade. Especially online under the hashtags #tdov and #transdayofvisibility, thousands of posts can be found on all common platforms, including educational posts, selfies and contributions from and about important figures in the trans* community. In addition, there are campaigns such as rallies, talks and educational work that provide visibility and platforms for the authentic and diverse stories of trans* people (Glaad 2025).


At a time when legal and social developments are challenging the rights and lived realities of trans* people in many countries, Transgender Day of Visibility takes on special significance. It stands as a symbol of the ongoing struggle for recognition, equality, and human dignity within the trans* community (Amnesty International, 2025; Fenway Health, 2025).

Last updated: March 2025

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