CINCINNATI — Monday marks the International Transgender Day of Visibility, a day dedicated to celebrating transgender people and raising awareness of the discrimination many face. 

What You Need To Know

  • Monday is International Transgender Day of Visibility

  • Trans-Empowerment Network and several other organizations hosted the 'We Won't Be Erased' rally and march in downtown Cincinnati Sunday

  • According to UCLA's Williams Institute, transgender individuals make up about 1% of the U.S. population

The "We Won’t Be Erased" rally and march in downtown Cincinnati brought together members of the Southwest Ohio LGBTQ+ community, allies, and supporters to demand stronger protections for transgender individuals. The event focused on amplifying the voices of transgender people amid growing challenges.

“Our goal was just to be seen and heard at a time when we feel like we're not being seen and heard,” said Jamie James, a leader with the Trans-Empowerment Network, the group that organized the rally.

James, one of the nearly 1.3 million adults in the U.S. who identify as transgender, expressed concerns about the increasing hostility transgender people face. According to the Williams Institute at UCLA, transgender individuals make up about 1% of the U.S. population.

“I’ve got to manipulate my life around where I think I can safely go to the bathroom or not. That’s what’s really hard,” James said. “The odds of me getting attacked in the bathroom are far greater than they are for a cis woman or a cis man.”

The rally also comes as lawmakers across the country, including in Ohio, have introduced or passed numerous anti-trans bills. According to the Trans Legislation Tracker, 42 such bills have been passed nationwide in 2025 alone, targeting areas like healthcare and sports.

In Ohio, Senate Bill 1, which bans Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practices at public higher education institutions, has become a focal point of concern. Dr. Simone Balachandran, a transgender professor at the University of Cincinnati, expressed anxiety over the potential impact on campus culture.

“Because DEI will be removed from campus, and that includes really important spaces like the Women's Center, the LGBTQ Center, and the African American Cultural Resource Center,” Balachandran said. “Also at UC, there are a number of anti-trans policies, specifically the bathroom policies, that need to be addressed.”

Despite these challenges, advocates remain hopeful. Recently, a panel of three judges from the District Court of Appeals ruled that Ohio’s House Bill 68, which bans gender transition treatments for minors, is unconstitutional. The bill will now go before the Ohio Supreme Court for final review.

James emphasized the importance of allies supporting transgender voices during this time of uncertainty.

“Because they're the voices that we really need to hear. They’re the voices that people need to hear standing up for trans voices when they're not in those spaces,” she said.