‘It’s beautiful to see’: Arts, clothing, community mark Trans Day of Visibility at S.I. Pride Center

April 7, 2024

Youth

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — It was a day of celebrating transgender individuals during a Trans Day of Visibility event held at the Pride Center of Staten Island.

The day is celebrated annually on March 31 – but with Easter falling on the same day, the Pride Center held the event on Saturday.

“We’ve tried to really focus on bringing people together and helping them feel more comfortable in their bodies, so they can be more visible,” said Hailey Dawson, behavioral health services manager for the Pride Center of Staten Island and licensed master social worker.

The Pride Center of Staten Island held a Trans Day of Visibility event at its Clifton location — inviting the community to socialize, take part in arts, get free manicures, and choose from clothes and toiletries. The flag represents the transgender community. Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Staten Island Advance/Annalise Knudson)Annalise Knudson

Those who attended were able to take part in art therapy, get a free manicure, enjoy snacks and sandwiches, play games, interact with others and receive free clothing and toiletries. Volunteer Angelus Ruiz brought a licensed therapy dog named Coco to the event. Ruiz typically brings Coco to the Pride Center to provide services to visitors.

Saturday’s event centered on the trans community, but several workers and volunteers at the Pride Center said everyone is welcome to their events. River Weisz, a worker at the Pride Center, explained that the event is a way to celebrate trans people and provide a place for the community to gather.

“It’s just a really important place for trans people to get to know each other, be visible with each other on Staten Island, and know that there’s a safe place for them to always come and be supported and loved by their community,” said Weisz.

The Pride Center received donations from several organizations for the event, including LUSH, Vans, Gypsy Legacy Cosmetics, Dip Premium Hair Care, Meow Meow Tweet deodorants, and Kirrin Finch androgynous clothing. There was also trans gear available, like tape and binders.

“Today is centering on the trans community, but everyone is welcome because we all are one big community,” said Dawson.

Finnoula Hughes was checking out the sustainable shampoo, cosmetics, and other items during the event. She heard about the event because her job partners with the Pride Center, but that they are also a transgender woman.

“Coming to events like these, it makes me see how visible and how important community is for Staten Island because sometimes I feel like there’s a lack of the queer community. … It’s beautiful to see the visibility. So I’m just very happy with the event,” said Hughes.

Dawson explained that it’s important to host events like Saturday’s to also raise awareness of violence against transgender people.

A Trans Murder Monitoring report showed that more than 300 people who identify as transgender were reported murdered in 2023. And studies have shown that a person is less likely to commit violence against a transgender person if they personally know a transgender person.

“Events like these help people meet us — see that we’re real people, that we’re human beings just like them. That we love like them, we have families like them, we like the same clothing as them. …And all we want is to be here and to have the opportunity to have a long, healthy and happy life like they do. We’re lucky we’re so supported by our community, and we hope that these events have continued to grow over the last two years and we hope they only continue.”