by Kellyn Botha

31 March marks Trans Day of Visibility – also known as TDOV – a day which many trans people such as myself mark by celebrating and taking pride in our identities, commemorating how far we have come, and how far we still must go. TDOV is an opportunity to be “out and proud”; to educate those around us; and to take stock as a community.

This year, however, many of us are severely hindered in our ability to be out, in the most literal sense, and to be publicly visible as a result. As I write this from my home in South Africa, a country which recently joined many others in enforcing an extensive “lockdown” in the wake of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, I cannot help but be struck by the irony of it all. For once, however, a large part of our invisibilisation as trans people seems to be something we need to do for the common good, as we give up our freedoms and comforts for the sake of those most at risk of this virus.

The first moment I realised that I as a trans woman would be impacted by this was in a text message from the laser hair removal clinic I frequent every month. It said that as “a growing number of people are affected worldwide, including outbreaks in South Africa, we feel it is wise to temporarily close the practice until further notice.” Many trans women and transfeminine persons will know the deep ache of dysphoria that comes with stubborn facial hair, and the anxiety that a bit of stubble missed by the razor will result in unwanted public scrutiny. But at the end of the day I recognise the immense privilege I personally enjoy that allows my worst problem to be a bit of extra hair. Laser hair removal can wait. The strain that gender dysphoria takes on my mental health can wait. People are dying.

I spoke to another trans woman recently who was asking around for ways to skip the psychological evaluation and doctor’s prescriptions that had been mandated to her in order to get hormones from the pharmacy before our country began enforcing stricter lockdown measures. She is one of countless trans people around the world concerned about what the strain on medical facilities and the enforcement of lockdown measures may mean for her access to hormones. I advised her that rushing a medical intervention could be dangerous in these uncertain times and that she should wait. People are dying.

All over the world gender-affirming surgeries have been put on hold for the sake of ensuring sterility and proper health in hospitals, and to refocus resources to the growing number of Covid-19 cases. Here in South Africa a young trans man I know who had been waiting for his top surgery quite some time was distraught at having to potentially put that on hold until all this is over. But again, it can wait. People are dying. Read more via ILGA