Santa Monica honors International Transgender Day of Visibility with a host of activities designed to celebrate the transgender community. The city's Cultural Affairs Supervisor, Patricia Garza, discussed the importance of inclusion and recognition in a recent announcement. Established in 2009 by Rachel Crandall Crocker, TDOV serves as a day to honor the contributions of transgender, non-binary, and gender-expansive individuals and to spotlight the ongoing fight against discrimination. Out in Santa Monica, the city’s LGBTQ+ employee group is leading initiatives, including staff trainings on equity and inclusion, and has partnered with the Santa Monica Public Library to provide a range of related events for the community. Garza noted that these efforts aim to cultivate a culture of equity, inclusion, and belonging for everyone in the Santa Monica community.
Residents are invited to visit the Main Library's display featuring literature by transgender and gender non-conforming authors and peruse staff picks that delve into transgender experiences. The library has assembled books for all ages to offer a more comprehensive understanding of this pivotal part of society, and these reads are available throughout March. Last Tuesday at the City Council meeting, Sydney Rogers, the vice chair of the Los Angeles County LGBTQ+ Commission and a notable advocate for transgender economic empowerment, read a special proclamation honoring the transgender community. Rogers is recognized for her extensive work in the arts and social justice, fulfilling roles that span from powerful public speaking to community engagement and policy influence. Particularly notable is Rogers' experience that covers over three decades in the arts and activism, her multifaceted career illustrative of the entwined nature of her advocacy and artistic expression.
Adding to the cultural outreach, "Will & Harper," a film that offers a narrative of friendship and resilience within the transgender community, will be screened on Saturday at the Church in Ocean Park. The event doubles as a fundraiser for the TransLatin@ Coalition, known for its advocacy with and direct support of trans, gender-expansive, and intersex persons since its inception in 2009. Alongside engaging with the arts, Santa Monicans are encouraged to support the Trans Economic Empowerment Project, a city-affiliated initiative that provides scholarships aiding individuals in changing their legal name and gender marker—a process that can be financially burdensome. The city and its partners also offer assistance through legal aid groups, so to donate specifically to the Trans Equity Scholarships, donors are instructed to designate their contributions accordingly during the donation process.
Efforts from city staff and partners signal a continued dedication to not just celebrating the transgender community but also to addressing practical barriers they face. Garza highlighted the communal goal, stating, "To be seen, recognized and celebrated for all of who we are is truly a move toward our collective wellbeing as a thriving city."
