Today is International Transgender Day of Visibility

On March 31, the world celebrates International Transgender Day of Visibility. This day serves as a reminder that trans people have always existed, continue to exist, and will always be part of society. However, for a trans person, being visible often also means being vulnerable, endangered, and rejected. Being trans in Armenia means facing daily struggles that are invisible to many.

Many trans people live in fear, hiding their identity even from those closest to them. They experience rejection and violence in their families, workplaces, the state system, and medical facilities. Many trans women and men, when they lose the support of their families and communities, become homeless and defenseless. Trans adolescents endure ridicule, pressure, and isolation in schools. Trans students hesitate to apply to universities due to stigma and fear, and those who do are often forced to drop out due to discrimination, psychological pressure, and intolerance.

Trans people face stigma in the healthcare system, often being denied even the most basic services. In military commissariats, they are subjected to humiliating and discriminatory treatment that violates their dignity. The police are often indifferent when trans people face violence, and, in some cases, the system itself is the source of oppression.

These are not just personal tragedies; they are systemic injustices that persist in silence. Right Side Human Rights Defender NGO has been working for years to document these violations, support trans people with legal and psychological services, and raise awareness of their struggles both in Armenia and internationally. But our most important task remains the same: to stand with trans people, to listen to them, and to believe them.

Our position is clear:

• Trans rights are human rights.
   
• The state is obligated to uphold and protect these rights.
   
• Society must reject stigma and violence.
   
• Being trans is not a topic for debate—it is the lived reality of human beings.
   

We call on:

The state to recognize and protect trans people. It must establish a system for legal gender recognition, prevent hate-based violence, and guarantee equality and security at all levels.
Society to see and accept trans people not as "others" or as a "threat" but as individuals with their own stories, struggles, and strengths.
International organizations to continue supporting the trans community with resources, advocacy, and concrete actions.

This day is not a celebration—it is a day of existence, hope, and resistance. Trans people live, fight, and change the world, even through the smallest steps. And Right Side Human Rights Defender NGO, as the first trans community-based organization in Armenia, will continue this struggle together with the trans community.