Seattle proclaims March 31 International Transgender Day of Visibility; community leaders urge action

Seattle City Council on March 31 formally proclaimed March 31, 2026 as International Transgender Day of Visibility and invited local leaders to address the council.

The proclamation was presented by Council member Rink, who said the measure recognizes "transgender, gender nonbinary, and Two-Spirit people by recognizing their societal accomplishments and contributions, and to raise awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people." Rink and other council members framed the resolution against a backdrop of state and federal measures they said are limiting trans rights.

The nut graf: community leaders who accepted the proclamation used the occasion to press the council for tangible resources and protections. Speakers described Seattle as a refuge and asked the city to back visibility with housing, health-care access and other supports for people fleeing hostile states.

Jessa Davis, cochair of the Seattle LGBTQ Commission, said visibility now "requires increasing levels of bravery" and pushed for "durable systems that allow people to belong and to thrive." Lavender Rights Project executive director Jalen Scott described the organization as a major Black trans organization that runs the only permanent supportive housing for trans people in Washington and urged the city to expand services and support the group's campaigns.

Several speakers gave personal testimony about the harms they said trans people face. Rose, participating remotely, described recent experiences in which community members faced suicide and acute crisis and said many have fled to Seattle "because Seattle is not just a place for us. It is our last refuge." Violet Kawaguchi of the Kawaguchi O'Connor Initiative explained that her organization guarantees up to six months of housing and helps people access Medicaid and SNAP as they resettle.

Danny Aschini, executive director of Gender Justice League, urged Seattle residents to support the No Hate in Washington State campaign and warned that out-of-state money is backing ballot measures targeting trans youth. Michael Woodward of Traction, a trans advocacy nonprofit, called attention to the role of allies and public officials in supporting long-term protections beyond visibility days.

Council members praised the proclamation and the speakers, and the meeting moved on to a scheduled group photo and public comment. There were no formal policy actions attached to the proclamation itself; council members and presenters said the recognition is meant to underscore the need for continued policy work and services.

The council then opened the regular public-comment period and moved on to other agenda items.