Fiscal Note
No City appropriation required.
Title
Declaring March 31, 2026, to be Transgender Day of Visibility in the City of Madison.
Body
WHEREAS, International Transgender Day of Visibility was first created in 2010 by trans advocate Rachel Crandall, the head of Transgender Michigan, with the goal of celebrating the lives and contributions of trans people; and,
WHEREAS, there are over 1.6 million trans, non-binary, and gender-expansive people in the United States; and,
WHEREAS, transgender and gender non-conforming folks are valued members of the City of Madison; and,
WHEREAS, on June 8, 2023, the City of Madison raised the trans flag at the Madison Municipal Building for the first time, having the flag fly for a week; and,
WHEREAS, also in June of 2023, the City of Madison declared itself as a sanctuary for trans and nonbinary individuals, stating a commitment to protecting transgender and nonbinary individuals and stating that access to health care is a fundamental right and that all people in Madison and the State of Wisconsin should have access to all health care, including gender affirming care; and,
WHEREAS, Transgender Day of Visibility additionally acknowledges the struggles that many trans people face, such as poverty, discrimination, and violence; and,
WHEREAS, due to factors such as discrimination and violence, not every trans person can or wants to be visible; and,
WHEREAS, this discrimination and violence against trans people has impacted Madison, leading to tragedy; and,
WHEREAS, there has been a recent intensifying backlash towards trans people in recent years, as evidenced by direct physical violence as well as legislative measures, seen in the 533 anti-LBGTQ+ bills proposed throughout state legislatures in 2024, according to the American Civil Liberties Union; and,
WHEREAS, in July of 2023, the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals permitted a state ban of gender-affirming care for transgender youth; and,
WHEREAS, on March 10, 2026, the United States Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals permitted a state ban of gender-affirming care for transgender adults; and,
WHEREAS, these anti-LGBTQ+ and, specifically, anti-trans bills in recent years have lead to the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention and Human Security releasing their third Red Flag Alert on March 11, 2026; and,
WHEREAS, Red Flag Alerts are released when several red flags for genocide are exhibited; and,
WHEREAS, 14 of these anti-LGBTQ+ bills were from the Wisconsin State Legislature, all of which were successfully defeated, though multiple required Governor Tony Evers’ veto power; and,
WHEREAS, the defeat of these bills is just one example of the resistance this discrimination has been met with, showing the strength and resilience of the trans community and their allies; and,
WHEREAS, this resilience of the trans community has long been on display; and,
WHEREAS, the Stonewall Uprising in 1969, which, in part, was led by transgender women of color, marked a major turning point in the LGBTQIA+ civil rights movement; and,
WHEREAS, while the Stonewall Uprising marked a turning point, there had been similar uprisings throughout the United States, including in the City of Milwaukee with the Black Nite Brawl in August of 1961; and,
WHEREAS, the Black Nite Brawl was a self-defense resistance action led by Josie Carter, a gender non-conforming Black “queen,” against four sailors who demanded admission to the Black Nite bar without furnishing identification, as required by all newcomers; and,
WHEREAS, in Madison, spaces such as the Back-Door Bar, opened in 1972, and the Cardinal Bar, opened in 1974, became the first places that publicly and specifically catered to queer clientele in Madison; and,
WHEREAS, organizations such as Fair Wisconsin, GSAFE, Proud Theater, and OutReach LGBTQ+ Community Center, among others, have both fought for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community and provided safe spaces for the LGBTQ+ community in Madison; and,
WHEREAS, the trans community has been historically resilient and will continue to be so; and,
WHEREAS, Transgender Day of Visibility is celebrated on March 31 each year;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Madison declares March 31, 2026, as Transgender Day of Visibility.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Madison commits itself to supporting transgender and gender-nonconforming residents of Madison and encourages all residents of Madison to resist hate and discrimination.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the City of Madison celebrates the lives and contributions of Madison’s transgender community.