HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-03-21 Proclamation Item Number: 2.a.
CITY OF IOWA CITY
COUNCIL ACTION REPORT
March 21 , 2023
Transgender Day of Visibility
Attachments: Transgender Day of Visibility proclamation
City of Iowa City
PROCLAMATION
Whereas, there is no doubt that the transgender community continues to face discrimination
here in Iowa and worldwide. Be it in the workplace, schools, or society, there is immense
harassment and inequality; and
Whereas, Rachel Crandall, a transgender activist, founded this day in 2009 to raise awareness
for the incredible burden of discrimination the community faces in every setting imaginable; and
Whereas, the need to bring a day of`visibility' for the transgender community is indicative of
the oppression they face in many sectors of life. Crandall wanted to highlight the fact that the
only transgender-centric day that is internationally recognized is Transgender Day of
Remembrance,which is in mourning of members of the community who had lost their lives, and
that there was no day to pay homage to living transgender people; and
Whereas, in the past year, hundreds of anti-transgender bills in States were proposed across
America including here in Iowa, most of them targeting transgender youth. The onslaught has
continued this year. These bills are wrong. Efforts to criminalize supportive medical care for
transgender kids, to ban transgender children from playing sports, and to outlaw discussing
LGBTQI+people in schools undermines their humanity and corrode our nation's values; and
Whereas, on Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31, annually, we recognize and revere
their contributions, successes, and relentless resilience in standing tall and strong in the face of
injustice.
Now, Therefore, I, Bruce Teague, Mayor of Iowa City, do hereby proclaim March 31, 2023
to be
Transgender Day of Visibility
in Iowa City and call upon all to join us in lifting up the lives and voices of transgender people
throughout our community, state, and nation and for us all to work toward eliminating
discrimination against all transgender, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary people.
Mayor
Signed in Iowa City, Iowa,
this 21st day of March 2023.