Franklin Council proclaims March 31 as Transgender Day of Visibility, community leaders speak

The Franklin Township Council on March 25 issued a proclamation designating March 31, 2025 as Transgender Day of Visibility.

Council member Ed Potasnik read the resolution and told the gathering, "it's really important that Franklin is a welcoming community, 1 that doesn't single out any individual or throw hate or shade at them or try to, do anything to demean them or take away any rights." Mayor Philip Kramer also addressed the crowd, saying, "Any marginalized group wants the same thing that the rest of us want. They want to be loved. They want to love. And they wanna be left to live their lives and be themselves."

The proclamation recognizes the history and purpose of the day and calls for community support for transgender and nonbinary residents. It cites the day’s founder and affirms that visibility is intended to "shine light on the positive aspects of transgender life and to celebrate the diversity of the transgender community," language read aloud by Potasnik during the ceremony.

Local and statewide advocates attended and spoke after the proclamation. Lauren Albrecht, director of advocacy for Garden State Equality, praised municipal leadership and said, "when it comes from the top, when love, understanding, acceptance, inclusion, diversity, and true true equity come from the top, it shows the values of the community." Dr. Gail Nelson, advisor to the Franklin High School Gay–Straight Alliance (PACE Club), described school-based work supporting students and warned that transgender youth face elevated risks; she said the club grew from a student crisis and now provides a safe space for students.

Ashley Isaiah Harris, introduced as a Franklin graduate and a transgender man, described the personal importance of visibility: "What it does is it brings awareness. And what awareness allows us to do is to break down stereotypes that they have on our community." Several council members and members of the public offered brief remarks of support.

Council members did not record a formal roll-call vote on the proclamation; the item was presented and read aloud as a council proclamation during the publicly noticed work session. Councilmembers encouraged community participation in local events tied to the observance.

Why it matters: Speakers framed the proclamation as both symbolic and practical — an affirmation of inclusion in local government that organizers and advocates said can reduce stigma and, they argued, contribute to safety and wellbeing for transgender and nonbinary residents.

What’s next: The council and advocacy groups discussed local events and outreach tied to the observance; no regulatory or ordinance action was taken during the session.