Trans Visibility

Today is International Transgender Day of Visibility—and I’ve got feelings. (When Ivy Met Adam spoiler alert!)

Okay, confession time.

As a queer author who believes deeply in representation, I feel a little guilty every year on Transgender Day of Visibility. Why? Because (seriously! spoiler ahead!) in my novel When Ivy Met Adam, Adam’s identity as a trans man is a major part of the plot twist.

And that makes visibility… complicated.

How do you honor and celebrate trans lives when your story intentionally holds that part back for emotional impact? The tension between wanting readers to see him and also discover him is real.

But here’s what I can say without ruining anything: Adam is a character I wrote with deep love and care. I talked to trans friends and colleagues. I listened more than I spoke. And I crafted his story not just as a twist—but as a truth. A tender, joyful, fully human truth.

Which brings me to something I can shout from the rooftops: how went your participation in the Trans Rights Readathon.

What’s the Trans Rights Readathon?

Running from March 21–31, this grassroots event is a beautiful, community-led effort to celebrate trans+ authors, stories, and lives. It ends on today—Trans Day of Visibility—and encourages all of us to spend 11 days reading, recommending, and amplifying books by and about trans, nonbinary, gender non-conforming, and Two-Spirit folks.

As the organizers put it:

“We hope you’ll join us as we spend 11 days reading, recommending, and celebrating trans+ stories, and in various calls to action to support the trans community both in your own area and across the globe.”

Yes. To all of it.

Taking part in the readathon is more than picking up a book (though that’s a very good start). Here are some powerful ways to make a difference:

• Read Books by Trans Authors
  Fiction. Nonfiction. Memoir. Poetry. All of it. Stories are how we fight erasure and claim space.

• Amplify Trans Stories (With Consent)
  Share your reading list. Post the quotes that moved you. Review the books. Recommend them to everyone you know.
  But—and this is important—do not out authors. If you know an author is trans and they are publicly out, shout them from the rooftops. Fly that flag and tag them proudly.
  But if you’re unsure? Let it be. You can still celebrate their brilliance—just list them as one of your favorite reads this month. The last thing we want is to endanger or expose the very people we’re trying to uplift. Visibility should always be chosen, not forced.

• Donate to Trans-Led Organizations
  Consider giving to groups like Transgender Law Center, book funds, or local trans mutual aid projects. Even $5 helps.

• Speak Up & Educate
  Have the hard conversations. Interrupt the ignorance. Vote like trans lives depend on it—because they do.

And yes, I’ll be reading along. I’ll be recommending books. I’ll be doing everything but spoiling When Ivy Met Adam… probably.

Happy Trans Day of Visibility to all my trans, nonbinary, and gender-expansive loves. You are radiant. You are resilient. You are real—and you are so, so loved.

Let’s make some noise. 🌈