Transgender Day of Visibility celebrated at Maplewood Town Hall

Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) was founded in 2009 by transgender activist Rachel Crandall to counteract the negative narratives often associated with transgender and non-binary people.

It was recently celebrated on the steps of Maplewood Town Hall with the transgender pride flag raised by Maplewood committee persons Dean Dafis and Nancy Adams.

The annual tradition, in partnership with SOMA Action, South Orange Village, the New Jersey Safe Schools Coalition, Essex County’s Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs, and other community partners, was an opportunity for the LGBTQ+ community and allies to stand together and speak out.

“We are here tonight to celebrate our solidarity, our authenticity, to be out and proud,” said Dafis. “My pronouns are he/him/his. I’m honored to be Maplewood’s first out committee person.”

William Meyer, president of SOMA Board of Education, said, “You are seen. You are valued. You belong. Even in this wonderful, accepting community, it’s hard. We are committed to showing up. Transgender rights are human rights and they’re for everyone. We want you to reach out and let us know how we’re doing.”

South Orange Councilwoman Hannah Zollman talked about the challenges transgender people can face.

“To every transgender person, you matter, you are valued, you are loved, and you belong here,” she said.

Shannon Cuttle, the first transgender elected representative on the South Orange Maplewood Board of Education, the first openly LGBTQ+ South Orange Maplewood School District Board of Education member, and the first openly trans non-binary elected official in the state of New Jersey said now is the time for allies to speak up.

“We need to celebrate the fact that being able to live and be yourself authentically, just enjoying life and being visible as your true self—not just celebrating days like today or during Pride month, but 365 days a year,” Cuttle said. “Teens and youth are under attack, especially under this current administration. To allies, take up that mic, take up that flag. Educate adults on what they need to do. We need our allies to take the torch and move forward. Send an LGBTQ+ friend a text. Check in on them and celebrate being a part of this world. They need to know that they matter. Visibility matters. Representation matters. Be that person that’s a visible ally. You are hope. You are the trusted ally. And to our youth, you are so beautiful. You are the next future leaders.”

Dafis said, “Who misses the rainbow crosswalk? We will be installing it again right before Pride month.”

J.P. Pedoto who works as program coordinator and clinician for Family Connections’ Pride+ program said, “I’m an out and proud trans man. Growing up, I didn’t know anyone who was trans. Being visible is saying we’re here and we know you’re here. Part of my job is to be visible for trans youth. Some of the youth are here today. These kids are living their truth every day.”

The podium was open to any trans youth who wanted to speak.

Eleanor, 17, said, “I am proud to be a transgender woman. Why must we fight to be seen? We must have solidarity and we must stand side by side. As trans people, when I call for trans rights, I am calling for liberation for all of us.”

Joan Howlett, a veteran said, “I’m the same person I was in Vietnam fighting a war. Trump threw transgenders out of service. He did not serve. He had a bone spur. It’s a great privilege to live in Maplewood, to be accepted, to be out and proud.”

Reggie Bledsoe, director of Essex County Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs, said, “To Dean, leaders like you inspire me every day. This work is exhausting. Every day there’s news in the negative. We have work to do here in Essex. Allyship should be in the public talking about us when we’re not there. As always, I thank you Maplewood and South Orange. You are the best of this county.”