Transgender Pride flag raised in front of Orlando City Hall. (Screenshot from City of Orlando’s Facebook)
ORLANDO | The City of Orlando raised the Transgender Pride flag in front of City Hall for the first time ever March 31 in honor of International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDoV).
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer also issued a city proclamation recognizing today as “International Transgender Day of Visibility” in Orlando. The proclamation was also signed by all six city commissioners.
“In our community, we are working each day to make Orlando a city where every voice, experience and identity is cherished and respected,” Dyer said in a statement. “Trans rights are human rights and on this day, we celebrate the immense contributions of the transgender community in Orlando. The transgender community still faces violence and discrimination; it takes all of us to create a world where their courage to live authentically is met with love instead of resistance. The City of Orlando remains committed to making our city even more welcoming and inclusive and a place where every resident feels equally valued and protected and has equitable access to opportunities.”
Equality Florida, the state’s largest LGBTQ-focused civil rights group, working in partnership with the city to get the flag raised and the proclamation done as well as to have Orlando’s famous Lake Eola fountain lit in the trans flag colors tonight.
“At a time when state lawmakers are attempting to ban transgender youth from participating in school sports with their friends, we are so excited to see the City of Orlando and Mayor Buddy Dyer celebrate the transgender community in this way,” said Gina Duncan, Equality Florida’s Director of Transgender Equality, in a press release. “Transgender and nonbinary Floridians still face disproportionate cultural, legal and economic challenges that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. But the community continues to step out of the shadows to be heard and seen, and demand a seat at the table.”
Come Out With Pride and the One Orlando Alliance will hold an event tonight at HÄOS on Church to celebrate TDoV and make a special announcement about the 2021 National Trans Visibility March.
TDoV began in 2009 and was started by Rachel Crandall, a trans activist in Michigan. TDoV celebrates transgender and nonbinary people around the world and is held every March 31.
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