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Trans Day of Visibility celebrated through art, performances and resources in Orange County

April 1, 2023

As transgender people and allies gathered or marched across the country this week, a celebration took place in Santa Ana honoring the annual International Transgender Day of Visibility.

Rather than march, the LGBTQ Center OC hosted an event featuring an open mic, drag performances, art exhibit and resources like free clothing.

“It’s a celebration to uplift the trans community,” said Manuel Antunez, the center’s LGBTQ+ health and trans services coordinator. This year’s theme: “Stand in your truth.“

At least 150 people attended the event Friday evening, with drag performances on the balcony of the LGBTQ Center OC overlooking 4th Street. An indigenous prayer opened the event, and a “glam closet” with various clothing items was available.

The international Transgender Day of Visibility event was created in 2009 by transgender activist Rachel Crandall. In Southern California, there were several events planned for Friday, March 31, including in Hollywood, Long Beach and Riverside.

In some places, including Hollywood, activists planned to stage protests under the banner “Trans Day of Vengeance,” calling attention to the increasing number of attacks and legislation against people who identify as trans, as well as against the general LGBTQ+ community.

Dani Kaye performs the closing act of the drag show during the Trans Day of Visibility at the LGBTQ Center OC in Santa Ana on Friday, March 31, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Manuel Antunez of the LGBTQ Center OC welcomes attendees for the Trans Day of Visibility event in Santa Ana on Friday, March 31, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Ivette Xochiyotl offers an indigenous prayer to open the Trans Day of Visibility event at the LGBTQ Center OC in Santa Ana on Friday, March 31, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Yvette Getarian performs her act during the drag show for the Trans day of Visibility event at the LGBTQ Center OC in Santa Ana on Friday, March 31, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Attendees walk through the gallery show of art created by the LGBTQ community during the Trans Day of Visibility event in Santa Ana on Friday, March 31, 2023. The event was held at the LGBTQ Center OC. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Johnny Gentleman gets the crowd going with his drag performance during the Trans Day of Visibility event at the LGBTQ Center OC in Santa Ana on Friday, March 31, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Abigail Beverly Hillz performs the opening act of the drag show during the Trans Day of Visibility in Santa Ana on Friday, March 31, 2023. The event was held at the LGBTQ Center OC. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

The crowd reacts to the drag performance of Abigail Beverly Hillz during the Trans Day of Visibility event at the LGBTQ Center OC in Santa Ana on Friday, March 31, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

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Activists say the “vengeance” moniker derives from a meme that has been around the trans community for years and is not a call to violence, according to The Associated Press. Still, Twitter removed thousands of tweets promoting a “trans day of vengeance” demonstration in Washington, D.C., Saturday— the social media company’s head of Trust and Safety said the term “vengeance” doesn’t “imply a peaceful protest” — and that rally was ultimately canceled due to “a credible threat to life and safety,” organizers said.

Friday evening’s celebration in Santa Ana aimed to “create an atmosphere of joy and celebration where we can unite and support one another,” according to the event description. It also provided an option for people to still participate who might not feel comfortable showing up in person: the ability to submit an art piece to be displayed at the event.

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In 2022, at least 38 transgender people were killed in the U.S., according to the Human Rights Campaign, which advocates for the LGBTQ+ community. There are more than 1.6 million trans youth and adults across the country, the organization reports

The American Civil Liberties Union is tracking 435 anti-LGBTQ+ bills in the U.S. The legislation includes bills that aim to limit the ability for trans individuals to update gender information on their IDs and records, use public bathrooms and locker rooms or access medically-necessary health care.

By the end of last year, “a record 17 bills attacking transgender and non-binary children passed into law,” according to the Human Rights Campaign.

There is also additional scrutiny in public schools. Some conservative parents complain that educators are out to indoctrinate their children with liberal ideology, particularly regarding gender identity issues. Other parents say it’s the conservatives pushing an agenda of discrimination against students who don’t identify as heterosexual.

In Orange County, Orange Unified and Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified are among the districts where books written by LGBTQ+ authors or describing their experiences have drawn the attention of some parents and school board members.

Local advocates also point to Huntington Beach, where a split City Council recently decided to fly only certain official flags, effectively barring the rainbow-colored pride flag that has been flown at City Hall the last couple of years during Pride Month.

“That was a call to action,” Antunez said, “to come together, go to City Hall to ensure we have a presence and support our community.”

Meanwhile, Antunez said, Transgender Day of Visibility is another opportunity to support a group of people who face discrimination, a high suicide rate and other challenges because they don’t identify with the gender they were born with.

President Joe Biden marked the day with a statement from the White House: “On Transgender Day of Visibility, we celebrate the strength, joy, and absolute courage of some of the bravest people I know.”

Transgender Americans, he said, “deserve to be safe and supported in every community — but today, across our country, MAGA extremists are advancing hundreds of hateful and extreme state laws that target transgender kids and their families. No one should have to be brave just to be themselves.”

“These attacks are un-American and must end,” said Biden, who a day earlier issued a proclamation declaring Friday as “Transgender Day of Visibility.”

Noting that more than half of the nation’s transgender youth say they have seriously considered suicide, Biden urged them to call 988, a suicide prevention and crisis hotline. Callers can press “3” to speak with a counselor specifically trained to support LGBTQ+ youth.

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