For Trans Day of Visibility, trans and non-binary members of Micro Rainbow’s community reflect about their experiences and thoughts on trans visibility. We keep engaging ourselves at Micro Rainbow to support trans and non-binary people seeking asylum. One year ago we launched a new monthly Social Inclusion event called the the Trans Zine of Knowledge where our trans and non-binary community members can connect through creative workshops.
This Trans Day of Visibility, Micro Rainbow is sharing reflections from members of our community on what it means to be trans and non-binary while seeking safety, belonging, and joy in the UK. This day is a moment to celebrate trans lives, recognise resilience, and reflect on the importance of being seen, heard, and accepted on our own terms.
For many in our community, visibility is not just about being recognised. It is about survival, self-expression, and the courage to live authentically in a world that can often feel unsafe.
“Freedom and acceptance”
Ansar/Wednesday, a trans person from Pakistan, describes Trans Day of Visibility in simple but powerful terms:
“Freedom and acceptance.”
Through Micro Rainbow’s social inclusion events, Ansar/Wednesday has begun to embrace their identity more openly.
“Confidence, publicly support my community and present myself as a non-binary person.”
For Ansar/Wednesday, visibility means more than being seen. It is about safety and dignity.
“Feeling safe and being accepted.”
But this journey has not been easy. Many trans people seeking asylum highlight the challenges of navigating systems that often fail to understand their experiences.
Despite these barriers, Ansar/Wednesday shares a message of encouragement to others:
“Don’t be scared, we can [have] the same rights as other people.”
“To shine out, never again remain in the tunnel of self-hate”
Pearlgin, from South Africa, reflects on how community has transformed their sense of self and wellbeing.
“The events have supported my mental health, cultivated 0% self-esteem to becoming visible, building on my skills and knowledge.”
They recall a moment that marked a turning point in their journey:
“Attending these sessions has strengthened my physical well-being… I am now gradually having the need to live a social life again; isolation was a priority before.”
Describing their personal growth, they say:
“I have divorced the wife who was then called ‘isolation,’ and am now with a new lifestyle called confidence, uplifted self-esteem and social life.”
For Pearlgin, Trans Day of Visibility is about celebration and collective progress.
“It’s about celebrating being trans as the way we are, recognising the contributions, and pushing for a world where visibility is safe, empowering, and freely chosen.”
Their words to others in the community are a powerful reminder of resilience and self-worth:
“To shine out, never again remain in the tunnel of self-hate.”
“You are different among many. Embrace the identity of calling, fear nothing and the world is yours.”
Visibility as safety, joy, and resistance
Across these reflections, a common thread emerges: visibility is deeply personal, but also shaped by external realities. For trans people seeking asylum, being visible can also carry risks, from disbelief in asylum systems to discrimination and isolation.
At the same time, visibility can be transformative. It can mean finding community, rebuilding confidence, and reclaiming identity after experiences of marginalisation and exclusion.
However, as Pearlgin notes, there is still work to be done:
“Empathy expressed towards trans people is grim.”
This Trans Day of Visibility, we honour the courage it takes to be seen in a world that does not always make space for trans lives. We celebrate the joy, strength, and creativity of trans and non-binary people in our community. And we reaffirm the importance of building a society where visibility is not only possible, but safe, supported, and celebrated.
To anyone who feels unseen or unheard today: you are not alone. Your identity is valid, your story matters, and your presence in this world is powerful.
Written by Hein Eenens
