LGBT Senior Presents News on the Positive Side, by Cora Berke

News On the Positive Side– by Cora Berke

“It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.” – Eleanor Roosevelt.

At any given moment we can have our fill of bad news, whether we are doom scrolling, watching our favorite news channel, listening to a podcast, or picking up a newspaper. Yet, if we look for the positive, we can find it in people who strive to make the world a better place.

International Transgender Day of Visibility was recently celebrated worldwide on March 31. It was created in 2009 by Rachel Crandall-Crocker, a psychotherapist and transgender activist from Michigan. She previously founded Transgender Michigan in 1997 for her local community and wanted to create a broader holiday for transgenders worldwide, in addition to the established solemn Transgender Day of Remembrance.

In a 2021 interview, Crocker told reporter Samantha Allen of Them,” I thought about creating the International Transgender Day of Visibility for a number of years. I was upset that the only day that we had was Transgender Day of Remembrance, because I tend to get really depressed on that day. I wanted a day when, rather than talking about those who passed away, we could talk about those of us who were alive. And I wanted a day that would bring together trans people from all over the world.” Now in its seventeenth year, it is celebrated throughout the world.

From New York City, Mayor Mamdani spent the day meeting with trans members of the community and said,” We’re fighting for a day when every trans New Yorker can live openly, safely, and with joy. His administration created the first Mayor’s Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs in New York.

Down under in Australia, the Trans Day of Visibility gathered 1,167 signed pledges by LGBTQ+ allies to join in protecting and supporting the transgender community.

The University of York in England is planning Beyond Visibility: Celebrating Trans Lives at York on April 22, 2026, with a full calendar of speakers and events.

In Bangkok, Thailand the day is celebrated through the Thai Foundation of Transgender Alliance for Human Rights. One of their members, Hua Boonyapisomparn posted on their Instagram account, “I believe that in order for us as a transgender community to improve our quality of life, it’s not only our responsibility, it’s the responsibility of our whole society.”

What started as a local organization in Michigan, has united the world with one common goal. As founder, Rachel Crandall-Crocker said, “One day, I want International Transgender Day of Visibility to be a day that we can just celebrate being ourselves. That’s what it’s all about for me: Being our true selves.”

They have lit a candle in the darkness.