Submittted by PELLA FELTON
Gathering Volumes, an independent bookstore in Perrysburg, will host renowned poet Barbara Marie Minney on Saturday, March 30, at 1:30 p.m. to celebrate Trans Day of Visibility.
Minney will read from her latest volume, “A Woman In Progress.
Trans Day of Visibility, a national celebration honoring transgender individuals, is observed annually on March 31. The event will take place at Gathering Volumes Bookstore, 196 South Boundary Street in Perrysburg.
Barbara Marie Minney, a seventh-generation Appalachian and transgender woman, is an accomplished poet, writer, speaker, and activist. Her work has been widely published in various anthologies and publications, earning her recognition and acclaim.
Minney’s book, “If There’s No Heaven,” was the recipient of the 2020 Poetry Is Life Book Award and was hailed as a Best Northeast Ohio Book by the Akron Beacon Journal.
In addition to Minney’s reading, the event will feature a talkback session moderated by poet Pella Felton.
Attendees will also can engage with the ET Taskforce, a new 501C4 nonprofit activist organization who will provide insights into the state of transgender rights in Ohio.
Copies of Julie Serrano’s groundbreaking book, “Whipping Girl,” will be available for purchase, further enriching the event experience.
Denise Phillips, the owner of Gathering Volumes, expressed her enthusiasm for hosting such a meaningful event. “We are honored to welcome Barbara Marie Minney to Gathering Volumes for Trans Day of Visibility,” said Phillips. “Her poetry resonates deeply with audiences, and we are proud to provide a platform for her to share her powerful voice.”
Trans Day of Visibility
Trans Day of Visibility: Celebrating Trans Lives and Advocating for Rights was established in 2010 by trans advocate Rachel Crandall to counteract the media’s focus on transgender violence and empower transgender individuals to live authentically. Each year on March 31, the world observes Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) to raise awareness about transgender people and celebrate their lives and contributions. However, due to the holiday falling on Easter this year, many organizations, including Gathering Volumes, are choosing to celebrate this Saturday instead.
This also includes Equality Toledo which will host a meetup Saturday March 30 from 4-6 p.m. at Grindhrs Co in Toledo.
The State of Trans Rights: A Call to Action
This year’s Trans Day of Visibility occurs amidst a crisis moment for many Trans Americans facing unprecedented violence, antagonism, and discrimination. Recent statistics from the American Civil Liberties Union reveal alarming trends, with 478 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced into state legislatures in the past three months, including several in Ohio. <https://www.aclu.org/legislative-attacks-on-lgbtq-rights>)The correlative increase in anti-trans violence and bullying, particularly in schools, underscores the urgent need for advocacy and support. <https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2024/03/12/school-lgbtq-hate-crimes-incidents>.
Indicative of this crisis was the death of Nex Benedict, a Nonbinary Oklahoma Teenager Who Died last month after being brutally assaulted in a school bathroom.
This event, as well as the rise in anti-trans violence over the last year led Lindsay Jo Durham, secretary of The BGO Association, to read a statement condemning the rash of anti-trans violence earlier this month. <http://bgindependentmedia.org/city-council-hears-citizens-speak-their-piece-about-violence-against-transgender-people-speeding-dog-park-progress/>
In Ohio, the discourse over Trans rights has been marked by a complex and unorganized interplay between Governor Mike DeWine, a vocal minority of General Assembly Republicans, and the Ohio Department of Health. Despite setbacks such as the passage of SB 68, which restricts access to gender-affirming healthcare, and proposed bills targeting transgender rights, including bathroom access and education policies, activists continue to mobilize for change.
Despite these setbacks Transgender activists are poised to play a key role in upcoming elections, highlighting the importance of advocacy and community engagement in advancing transgender rights and equality.
A recent poll by the Goldfinch Group suggests that LGBTQ identifying individuals are disproportionately motivated to vote against legislators who restrict LGBTQ Rights.<https://abcnews.go.com/538/lgbtq-voters-lot-swing-voters/story?id=107894358>
In Wood County, Trans Activists have seen some recent victors including the 2023 election of the Bowling Green’s first Gender Nonbinary Councilperson and the 2022 passage of a citywide ban of gender discrimination in Bowling Green places of Business.
According to Persephone Shock, a Trans activist and member of the Equality Toledo Community Action Taskforce, Trans Day of Visibility represents a moment of hope for Trans Ohioans. “It is no longer sufficient that Trans People should be visible; they must be heard. Trans Day of Visibility serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by transgender individuals, including discrimination, violence, and inequality. Despite these obstacles, events like the one at Gathering Volumes aim to uplift and celebrate the transgender community while advocating for greater understanding and acceptance.”
