CRESTLINE—After a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Transgender Day of Visibility is on again for this year.
The event is sponsored by the Mansfield Gay Pride Association and the first local one was held in 2019 with about 35 people in attendance.
“We were unable to host the event last year due to COVID-19, and we are so grateful to be able to participate with the international community again this year on March 31 at 6 p.m. at the Gazebo in Central Park, downtown Mansfield, Ohio,” said Crestline resident Kelli Quail.
The first international Transgender Day of Visibility was first held on March 31, 2009.
“It is designed to bring awareness to this segment of the population. With so much legislation based on superstition, fear and lies, this event is as important today as it was in 2009,” said Quail.
Quail is the current President of Mansfield Gay Pride Association.
“As a transgender female myself, I have witnessed and been a victim of bigotry and prejudice. Shelia Barone, the leader of Positive Progressions our Transgender support group, is committed to the education of the public through events like the Transgender Day of Visibility and our Trans 101 program,” said Quail. “We will continue to work for the day when the transgender community’s rights are no longer fodder for political debate.”