Transgender Day of Visibility

Transgender Day of Visibility

03/31/2023

Frost Valley aims to be a place where community and inclusion are fostered every day – a place where everyone is empowered to be themselves and feel at home, embodied by two of our eight Core Values: Caring and Community. On Friday, March 31, 2023 these two core values are highlighted as we join the trans community in celebrating Transgender Day of Visibility.

Transgender Day of Visibility began in 2009 to shift the cultural narrative, as well as to celebrate the vibrancy, positivity, successes, and victories of the trans community. We renew and reemphasize our commitment to promoting queer- and trans-inclusion and affirmation. In addition, we want to share vital resources so that we can all join together in this day of celebration.

For the past few years, Frost Valley has worked to expand equity and access to our trans siblings. We have arrived at a number of key steps – some already underway and some to be completed soon:

• We have enacted policies that protect a camper’s right to advocate for their housing assignment to be consistent with their gender identity. We are working to expand housing choices and assignments for future summers.
• We have enacted measures to ensure that each persons’ correct pronouns are known and used. Every member of our community is fully empowered to be themselves.
• In summer 2022, we worked with gc2b’s philanthropic wing, 2b.care, to provide chest binders to campers who need them, working closely with the parents and families of these campers to ensure that everyone’s needs were being met.
• We are working to expand the number and availability of gender inclusive bathrooms on camp, with plans ready to move forward.

Here are some resources to learn more about these actions, why they matter, and why we should all work to be active allies to the trans members of our community:

• Guide to Being a Trans Ally by GLAAD – provides concise explanations for how each of us can be better allies to trans members of our community.
• The Trevor Project – for resources, specifically for youth, on what gender identity is and how to be an ally to trans and non-binary people.
• Buzzfeed Book List – for  21 suggestions on books on gender for young children. Your local library will likely have many of these!

During a time when not all rights are universally accepted or recognized, Transgender Day of Visibility is more needed than ever. We invite you to join us in celebrating trans people’s unyielding commitment to their communities.