Commentary: Trans Day of Visibility falls on Easter this year, and LGBTQ+ people need ‘a resurrection moment’

Every year, Trans Day of Visibility is recognized on March 31. In 2024, Easter falls on the same date. Reflecting on this overlap, the United Church of Christ’s Minister for Gender and Sexuality Justice Ministries, Rachael Ward, offers a commentary on the significance of Easter this year for LGBTQ+ people — and trans and non-binary people in particular.   

Trans Day of Visibility (TDOV) rests within Easter this year, and LGBTQ+ people need a resurrection moment where death does not have the word and love transcends hate.

TDOV was created in 2010 as trans advocates noticed a lack of celebration of trans lives as opposed to only reporting the violence against trans individuals.  

Christ’s death is brutal, stemming from prosecution of difference, led by empire. And Christ’s resurrection continues to be a place queer folks find hope in their bodies, minds, and spirits, transcending moments of injustice and surges of hate. 

The resurrection story holds for LGBTQ+ people of faith the ultimate promise and truth: God is constantly coming out for your love and your personhood. And God knows intimately the ways it aches when those around us deny us of our rights to be human and in relationship to each other.  

Resurrection this Easter Sunday can look like uplifting not just the disparities trans and non-binary siblings are facing, but offering space for their gifts from God to be celebrated.  

For TDOV this year, I’m reflecting on what it means for trans siblings to resurrect into their joy — right here, right now — on this earth. For trans siblings to no longer be tucked in a tomb, forced to wear clothing that doesn’t share who they are through and through. No longer tucked in a tomb, forced to hide their names and pronouns for fear of being bullied. No longer tucked in a tomb, forced to adhere to legislation attempting to disembody the Imago Dei within them.  

This year, for TDOV, Easter’s resurrection is a rainbow of queer joy and resistance. Easter’s resurrection is an invitation and reminder that when God came out for humanity in full love, God meant every single one of us. 

Advocacy for trans and non-binary rights 

Transgender and non-binary individuals are beloved by God, created in the image of God, and deserving of dignity and equal protection under the law.  

You can take action to support trans and non-binary people by urging Congress to pass the Transgender Bill of Rights and the Equality Act.  

The Transgender Bill of Rights (HR 269/SR 144) recognizes the federal government’s duty in protecting and codifying the rights of transgender and non-binary people, and ensuring they have access to medical care, shelter, safety, and economic security. The Equality Act (HB 15/SB 5) would provide consistent anti-discrimination protections for all LGBTQ+ individuals across key areas of life, including employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally funded programs, and jury service. 

The UCC Gender and Sexuality Justice Ministries team also invites you to our webinar, “Advocacy 101: Communal Care for Trans & Non-Binary Siblings,” on April 17 at 3:30 p.m. ET, where we will journey through our recently created “Love is Louder” toolkit. Register here. 

In memory of Nex Benedict, who died Feb. 8 in Owasso, Oklahoma, you can participate in Transgender Day of Visibility by sending a letter or artwork to Freedom Oklahoma’s TDOV Community Art Project here.

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