Trans Day of Visibility 2021: Meet Tabby, Chiyo, and Danielle
Happy Trans Day of Visibility everyone! 💙💗🤍💗💙
Held every year on March 31st, Trans Day of Visibility (TDOV) is dedicated to celebrating trans lives and bringing awareness to the issues that transgender people face worldwide. This year we've chosen to celebrate 3 wonderful trans folk who are not only visible by putting themselves out into the world but who also contribute to the wider Trans community.
TABBY LAMB - Pronouns: She/They
First up we're celebrating non-binary writer, performer, and LGBTQ+ activist, Tabby Lamb.
Based in East London, Tabby loves to explore the intersections of politics and popular culture in her work. Her debut solo show 'SINCE U BEEN GONE' received glowing reviews including from the Guardian who described the play as “bold, honest and swollen with love”.
Tabby is also an associate writer with Middle Child, she’s on attachment at the Oxford Playhouse via their Playhouse Playmaker scheme 2021, and she’s developing new work on Wild Child’s Oli Lansley mentor scheme, mentored by Sarah Solemani.
Giving back to the community, Tabby facilitates and runs creative arts projects for LGBTQ+ young people and also founded Theatre Queers, a bi-weekly meet up group for queer people in the theatre industry to connect and network together.
Most recently Tabby was announced as one of 6 filmmakers to be taking part in this years BFI Flare X BAFTA Crew mentoring programme which brings together emerging LGBTQIA+ filmmakers to receive mentoring by a senior figure from the film industry.
She is currently working on various stage and TV projects including a new trans musical, which we cannot wait to hear more about!
To find out more about Tabby, you can follow them on Instagram @badgalenby or visit their website at tabbylamb.com
CHIYO GOMES - Pronouns: He/They
If you've not heard of Chiyo Gomes, also know as Prinx Chiyo, yet then you're missing out. We first discovered Chiyo through his Boys Bleed. Period. campaign and we were hooked!
Chiyo is an incredible Drag artist, model, writer, activist, and unapologetic sex worker who was named Performer of the Year in the 2019 Sexual Freedom Awards.
Chiyo is currently competing as the first ever Trans identified finalist in Mr Gay England, a typically white, cis dominated contest. By putting himself out there for the competition, Chiyo has been subject to some horrific abuse online and as a result has recently been hounded off of Twitter. Should Chiyo win Mr Gay England it will be a win for the whole Trans community and send a strong message that we are not going away.
We'd love it if you could go and show Chiyo some support over on Instagram at @prinxchiyo or, if you're financially able, you can tip Chiyo via his Ko-fi page at ko-fi.com/CHIYO
DANIELLE ST JAMES - Pronouns: She/Her
The eagle-eyed of you may recognise Dani from her appearance on Channel 4's First Dates back in 2018 but since then she's been making a name for herself as a change maker within the trans community.
After hearing the news that the Gender Recognition Act was to be reformed, Dani, along with friend Jacqui Devon, decided she needed to do something to support her community and so Not A Phase was born.
Not A Phase is a small charity supporting the lives of trans adults in the UK through awareness campaigns, supporting trans+ owned businesses, and providing training to institutions and corporate companies on the real trans experience. Their belief that public education is the key to creating real change fits perfectly with Trans Day of Visibility, as the awesome Dr Ronx says, 'We cannot be what we do not see!'.
This year, Not A Phase hope to roll out peer support groups across the country, providing a regular safe space for trans+ adults to connect with each other. At present, all of Not A Phase's funding comes through merch sales and donations.
Not A Phase is our chosen charity for this years Q1 donation, if you'd like to support the work of Not A Phase you can do so through their Go Fund Me at gofundme.com/f/Not-A-Phase
To find out more about Dani you can follow her over on Instagram at @danistjames and keep up to date with Not A Phase at @notaphaseorg.
