The International Transgender Day of Visibility is an annual event on March 31 to celebrate transgender people and raise awareness of discrimination.
The B.C. government raised the transgender flag at the legislature Thursday ahead of the International Transgender Day of Visibility.
Kelli Paddon, B.C.’s parliamentary secretary for gender equity, said the province recognizes and celebrates the transgender, non-binary and Two-Spirit residents of B.C.
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“Visibility matters. Everyone deserves to see themselves and their contributions represented in our communities. And yet, so many transgender people continue to be marginalized and discriminated against,” said Paddon, in a statement.
“It is also important to recognize that unconscious bias can cause just as much harm. Unconscious bias is not necessarily something one chooses, but it can affect another’s ability to secure a home, advance in their career or be treated fairly. For this reason, we all need to take responsibility for checking our biases and working to break them,” added Paddon.
Paddon said the B.C. government is the first in the province’s history to raise the transgender flag on the lawn of the legislature.
The International Transgender Day of Visibility is an annual event occurring on March 31 dedicated to celebrating transgender people and raising awareness of discrimination they face.
ticrawford@postmedia.com