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There are already quite a few special days for the LGBTI or Queer community. Since 1999, the International Transgender Day of Remembrance has existed, every year on November 20, when the transgender persons murdered in that year are commemorated. A sad day when you know that more than three hundred human lives are involved every year. International Transgender Visibility Day on March 31 was created in 2009 in response to the anniversary. The idea was that positive attention is also needed. That a transgender person may also be 'celebrated' as an enrichment of society.

Of course, there is also attention to discrimination. Also within the LGBTI or Queer community, transgender people often encounter misunderstanding and rejection. Hence a 'visibility day', which pays attention to people who are transgender and much more besides. COC Haaglanden is an ally in the fight for social acceptance and equal rights and opportunities for transgender people, but also for others, who identify themselves, for example, as gender nonbinary or gender fluid.

It is difficult to work on progress in society in this time of Corona restrictions, but we keep trying, together with our partners such as Transgender Netwerk Nederland. For example, COC Haaglanden participates in a steering committee for the establishment of a Trans Health Clinic in The Hague, our specialized social work provides help to transgender people with requests for help and our team involves gender diversity educators in schools in their educational work. In addition, board members also volunteer for people on an individual basis when there is an opportunity to lend a hand to someone in our community. And in consultation with security partners, COC Haaglanden ensures that the safety of transgender people is high on the agenda. Internally, the board works with volunteers to create an environment that is welcoming and safe for transgender people.

Jurgen Schouten, board member

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[language_start language=en]

International Day of Transgender Visibility

There are already quite a few special days in the LGBTI or Queer community. The International Transgender Day of Remembrance has been observed on 20th November every year since 1999, commemorating the transgender people murdered that year. A sad day, when you realize that this concerns over three hundred human lives lost every year. The International Day of Transgender Visibility on March 31 was conceived in 2009 as a counterpart to the Day of Remembrance, with the intention of giving positive attention to transgender people and celebrating them as an enrichment of our society.

There is of course also attention for discrimination, since even within the LGBTI or Queer community, it is unfortunately common for transgender people to encounter incomprehension and rejection. Hence a “day of visibility”; a celebration of people who are transgender and also much more. COC Haaglanden is an ally in the struggle for social acceptance and equal rights and opportunities not only for transgender people, but also for those who identify as non-binary or gender-fluid.

In these times of Corona restrictions, it is difficult to work for progress in society, but we persevere, together with our partners such as Transgender Network Nederland. For example, COC Haaglanden participates in a steering group for the establishment of a Trans Health Clinic in The Hague. Our specialized social work provides support to transgender people with requests for help, and our education team is involved with providing information about gender diversity and gender non-conformity in schools. Members of the board of COC Haaglanden also work individually with people when there is an opportunity to lend a hand to someone from our community. And in consultation with our security and safety partners, COC Haaglanden ensures that the safety of transgender people is high on the agenda. Internally the board works together with volunteers to create an environment that is welcoming and safe for transgender people.

Jurgen Schouten, member of the board.

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