7 Young LGBTQ Stars Explain the Importance of Transgender Visibility Day

Hannah Hart is an actress and YouTube star.

"I think it's crucial to have a day like this because so many days, people in the transgender community don't get to feel recognized as their true selves. You know, I am always motivated when I go on Instagram and I check the tags with people sharing their transition stories and sharing their transformations, to see how not only are they encouraging themselves, but they're encouraging each other. It's sad that they're not getting the same love and respect from the community in their physical lives, but I'm so glad we have the internet to have days like this, to have recognition like this, to let people know that, even if you're not feeling it right now, you do inherently matter."

Jacob is a genderqueer writer and producer who currently works on Transparent.

"I think the main message for today is that part of visibility is supporting each other, right? Because being visible as trans people is hard. It is work, and it takes a lot of courage and stamina. And so, I think on Transgender Visibility Day, what's so important is to celebrate each other and to really love on all the trans people in your life. Remind them just how important and vital their visibility is for you, and that goes for trans folks and the other folks in our community. And that goes for allies, really showing love to trans folks who are holding it down."

Troye is a social media star and young emerging music artist.

"I have such faith in the youth of our community. I'm one of them, and I'm friends with them, and I see them all the time. We're the most resilient and brilliant people in the world, I think. And to celebrate that, and encourage it, and encourage activism within the community is always a big thing."

Gigi is a transgender model, actress, and YouTube star.

"It's a day where trans people can have their name and what they've done and screamed about and stood for over the course of their lives — they can have that screamed from the top of a mountain. And they can have the praise that they deserve. And I think, you know, having today's event to honor these youths . . . that also makes today really special."

Elliot is a transgender actor who has appeared on Shameless and The Fosters.

"It's Transgender Visibility Day, and that's very important to my community. And for the LGBTQIA+ community . . . right now in the current political climate we're in, being visible is a team effort. It's important, as a community, to show support for one another, to show that we're all in this together. We're all fighting this together."

Alexandra is a transgender actress who has appeared on Transparent.

"It's important because we really need to alert society that trans people are here, and LGBTQ people are here. It's just important, it's like any other movement. I think we have to make sure that we are not forgotten. So it's so important to have days like this."

Cetine is a transgender model and actress.

"Just support to my community, basically. I'm a part of it, I work with it, and we all work together, and we're a family."