Magazine News & Features Trans Day of Visibility 2023: Your Art Visibility days are part of LGBTQ+ culture because they shine a spotlight on individuals, culture, art, organisations and struggles of minority groups within our community. This year we celebrate Transgender Day of Visibility with trans people being discussed, often incorrectly and without consent, by the mainstream media. Today is our opportunity to be visible on our own terms and counter misinformation and fear with the joy we find in being transgender. To recognise Trans Day of Visibility 2023, LGBT HERO asked the LGBTQ community to create art around the theme of ‘Trans Joy’. The brief asked for any kind of art such as writing, drawing, painting, sculpture, or music. We also asked for selfies with a sentence or two about why you like being trans. We will be celebrated Trans Day of visibility by meeting over Zoom and talking about our work, as well as sharing some new submissions. You can view the gallery as a flip book HERE or download as PDF HERE Kate Meyher - Photo @katemeyher This is an image of me behind the turnables at Meadfest in Derbyshire, lost in music and bringing joy, harmony and laughter to the crowd. Music carries so much power, raising spirits and bringing people together. Janine Booth - Poem @janinebooth Black boys grown women fighting to surviveIn freedom's land are some folks not allowedTo live beyond the age of thirty-five? Dysphoria and prejudice conniveFrom gender manacles to funeral shroudBlack boys grown women fighting to survive Must humans hide or lie to stay alive?Does Pride now mean our sisters must be proudOf living past the age of thirty-five? What torment, hatred, bigotry will driveHer own hand, or her killer's, baying crowdBlack boys grown women fighting to survive Conformity proves lethal and deprivesIts deviants whose rights are disavowedOf life beyond the age of thirty-five So make the change, the equal dream reviveGo tell the world the truth and say it loudBlack boys grown women fighting to surviveTo live beyond the age of thirty-five Catherine They/Them - Poems Vessel In this vesselI have traversed the oceanI have known the tranquil blueI have felt the tempestuous waves Yet the captain by the ship Nor valiant crew is definedMy entity cannot by boundBy the body wherein I reside The Captain I am the captain of this shipAnd here are my valiant crewOur bodies and minds are not constrainedPerhaps we’re not like you We heed not what the old men saidOf boys in blue and girls in pinkOf straight lines down the middleAnd of little room to think I am the captain of this shipAnd here are my valiant crewOur hearts and minds can be as oneOur love is blessed and true We heed not what the old men saidOf ladies and of menOur world is full and beautifulOur rainbow has no end I am the captain of this shipAnd here are my valiant crewWe strive to be our fullest selvesAnd live for what is true We heed not what the old men saidOf what is good or sin We know our lives are beautifulAnd power comes from within I am the captain of this shipAnd here are my valiant crewWe seek to live a peaceful lifeIn that, we’re just like you! Congruence I cannot describe the power,Body and mind singing from the same hymn sheet,Perhaps not the same part,But the harmonies are sweet.I do not much care what you see,When you look at me,I exist in the nuance,Forever between the lines. Can I stay here?Heart and mind,Ever more aligned,Drumming out the same rhythm. My joy is real,My love is beautiful,My voice is strong and true,And I’m finally ready to sing! Joe - Photos I'm a trans guy 3 years on T. I took this selfie on a bus to show my friend my hat and suddenly realised it was the best photo of me ever. I hope you like it! I wanted to share the rock climbing photos because I love it and it shows trans people thriving in the real world. Link - Photo Piper Bates - Art @piperstrangeart John C Adams - Photo @johncadamssf "I love being nonbinary. For me, it is about being entirely myself. Almost all the happy people I've ever met had something in common: they were content with who they were. This is what being nonbinary has given me too. I feel incredibly lucky to have this gender identity and to connect with all the many inspiring people I meet at Trans and Nonbinary groups." Twitter @johncadamssf Alex Thomas - Digital Art/Photo 'In this picture I was performing at a queer friendly rave and art night. I bought the vest because Laura Jane Grace wore it. She's a trans woman in band called Against Me. Someone said they liked my beard and general masculinity. That's why I like dressing this way, I feel it gives me the freedom to be seen outside the gender binary.' Tacey C O'Neil - Photo @densitypoint It’s #TransDayOfVisibility #TDOV, so here’s a photo of this trans femme enby working at their partner’s parents’ house. Finally coming out (took 30 years) and being my true self was the right decision but it is getting increasingly scary being out in public: I just want to be able to be me without fear. Beck Fisher - Photo I like being me because finally I feel I can stick a middle finger up to the phrases 'you can't do/be that'. I can and I am! Sara Matharu - Drawing @ohfeelingsmonster Paula Goodwin - Quote Ellen Mellor - Writing linktr.ee/samarcand Richie Adam - Poem Thank you so much to everyone who submitted to this beautiful compendium of trans joy!