21 trans and non-binary people who’re proud, visible and making the world a better place
Elliot Page, Zaya Wade and Chella Man. (Instagram/Getty)
Today is the 12th annual Trans Day of Visibility, the day of the year where we celebrate the whole spectrum of transness and are inspired by trans people who are visible, proud and working to make the world a better place.
Trans lives are under attack in many parts of the world, making today a time to pause and reflect on how far we’ve come and how far there still is to go on the road to trans equality and liberation.
With this in mind, here are 21 trans and non-binary people who are not only out and proud, but helping to build a world where trans people of all genders can live safe, joyful lives.
Raquel Willis. Activist, media strategist and former Transgender Law Center national organiser, who is currently writing her debut book. You might have seen the viral videos of her leading 15,000 New York protestors in a chant of “Black Trans Lives Matter” at a June 2020 rally.
Seeing all these people show up today to say “Black Trans Lives Matter” is really making me emotional. pic.twitter.com/4SQepotqWE
— Michael. (@yosoymichael) June 14, 2020
Angelica Ross. Actress, Navy veteran and tech CEO. The Pose star is a long-time advocate for the trans community, founding an company that helps employ trans people in tech, TransTech, in 2014 after teaching herself to code.
Lucia Blayke. Model, activist and public speaker, Lucia is a founder of London’s Trans Pride and runs LGBT+ strip night Harpies.
Ki Griffin. An intersex and non-binary actor and advocate, Ki stars in British soap Hollyoaks.
Chella Man. Deaf and trans artist, actor and model, Chella rose to prominence by documenting his transition on YouTube. He’s gone on to star in campaigns with brands like Calvin Klein and continues to use his platform to advocate for trans rights.
Activist Chella Man and Artist Mary V attend The Trevor Project TrevorLIVE NYC at Cipriani Wall Street on June 11, 2018 in New York City. (Dave Kotinsky/Getty for The Trevor Project)
Abigail Thorn. YouTube veteran who has sought to educate the world with her videos that blend theatre production with topical issues, Abigail came out as a trans woman in January 2021.
Tashnuva Anan Shishir. Bangladesh’s first out TV news anchor, Tashnuva is part of a push by the media industry to use visibility to change attitudes towards gender diversity.
Tashnuva Anan Shishir during her first broadcast at a news studio in Dhaka on March 8, 2021. (MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Kate Moross. Artist, illustrator and art director whose work is renowned in the design world. Worked on visuals for Kylie Minogue’s iconic 2020 album Disco.
Kai-Isaiah Jamal. Poet and activist whose work addresses growing up a trans man in a Muslim family. The trans visibility activist also walked at London Fashion Week in 2020 and graced the front covers of several magazines.
Wednesday Holmes. Non-binary lesbian artist and activist with Voices4 London.
Zaya Wade. The 13-year-old trans daughter of Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade who has inspired trans teens and their families worldwide since coming out last year. In March 2021, Zaya met Michelle Obama.
Freddy McConnell. Journalist, dad and trans man who’s taking his legal fight to be named the “father” or “parent” on his child’s birth certificate to the European Court of Human Rights.
Shon Faye. Journalist, podcaster and author whose book, The Transgender Issue, is due in September 2021 and promises to spark change.
Stella Keating. A 16-year-old trans girl who spoke at the Senate Judiciary Committee arguing in favour of the Equality Act – and she was the only trans person there.
“Hi, I’m Stella, and I’m transgender. I’m here before you today representing the hundreds of thousands of kids just like me who are supported and loved by their family, friends and communities across the country.” pic.twitter.com/gFwqlATmTf— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) March 17, 2021
Tobi. The non-binary Hungarian teen in Colors of Tobi, who spent four years being followed by a film crew to give audiences a rare insight into the journeys of love and acceptance within families of trans kids.
Leyna Bloom. Actor and model who made history as the first trans woman of colour to be featured in Sports Illustrated‘s swimsuit issue.
Elliot Page. The most famous trans person in the world (probably) and a legend who came out as trans in December 2020 and immediately began advocating for trans kids.
Elliot Page. (Instagram)
Tom Pashby. Non-binary activist who’s run for parliament twice and founded Include Mx, a campaign to get business to be more inclusive of non-binary identities by making one simple change.
Layshia Clarendon. The trans non-binary Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) player shared their euphoria after having a gender-affirming surgery and prompted a wave of support for trans people in sports.
Shivani Dave. Bisexual BBC presenter who came out as non-binary live on air to make a powerful point about acceptance.
Chase Strangio. The trans ACLU lawyer who fought and won a landmark Supreme Court case in 2020 that gave federal workplace protections to gay and trans workers for the first time.
Laverne Cox and Chase Strangio of the ACLU embrace at a Yes on 3 event (Natasha Moustache/Getty Images)
