AUSTIN, Texas — The transgender community gathered to celebrate Transgender Day of Visibility on Sunday – a day aimed at not just celebration, but with a purpose to raise awareness on the discrimination transgender people face.
The Austin-based grassroots organization Gender Unbound hosted its second annual community picnic, where people filled the lawn to listen to live music and view the work of transgender and intersex artists.
"We just really want to showcase trans and intersex art that's not necessarily about being trans or about gender itself, but actually our lived experiences and the type of art that we want to express," Gender Unbound organizer Jae Lin said.
The celebration came on the heels of a landmark decision that involves gender-affirming care for trans youth. On Friday, a Texas Appeals Court upheld a trial court decision to not investigate families of those families seeking care.
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A legal battle came to play at the order of Gov. Greg Abbott after Attorney General Ken Paxton labeled the procedures as child abuse.
"Our political climate in Texas is definitely quite hostile towards trans people – has been for a while," Lin said. "And we also know so deeply that that doesn't represent Texas and its people."
The deputy director for Transgender Justice at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) released the following statement after the ruling:
“Our clients and countless families like theirs are guided by love and compassion for their transgender youth, following the guidance of their doctors and fighting for the futures their family deserves. These baseless and invasive investigations are a dangerous abuse of the state’s power and one we’re thankful the Texas courts have consistently ruled against.”