Trans visibility, rights, and realities: where do we stand today?

On March 31st 2026, we celebrated the pride, resilience, and achievements of transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse people across the globe!

Across the world, transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse people continue to show incredible strength, resilience, and creativity. Their stories, identities, and contributions are an essential part of our societies — yet their rights remain under constant pressure.

A reality still marked by violence and discrimination

Despite growing visibility, violence against trans communities remains deeply concerning.

• 💔 281 trans people were murdered over the past year (TGEU 2025/2026 data).
• 🖤 Trans people of color are disproportionately affected, representing nearly all reported victims.

In some countries, the situation reflects both progress and persistent challenges:

• 🇬🇧 In England & Wales, 4,780 hate crimes against trans people were recorded (year ending March 2024). While this represents a slight 2% decrease, the long-term trend over the past five years shows a significant increase.
• 🇺🇸 In the United States, 645 anti-trans bills were tracked as of February 9, 2026. Although only a few have passed and some have failed, the sheer volume reflects ongoing political pressure targeting a community that represents around 1% of the population.
• 🇨🇦 In Canada, 74% of Two-Spirit, trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse job seekers report hiding part of their identity in professional contexts (Working on Change study).

These figures highlight a global pattern: beyond physical violence, trans people face systemic discrimination, social exclusion, and barriers to basic rights.

Stronger mobilization and meaningful progress

At the same time, advocacy, visibility, and institutional change are gaining momentum.

• 🇪🇺 In 2026, WHO Europe, in partnership with the European Commission, launched a major initiative to ensure non-discriminatory access to healthcare, aiming to remove gender identity as a barrier to dignified treatment.
• 🙌🏾 In February 2026, the European Parliament adopted a significant resolution calling for the full recognition of trans women as women in all equality and anti-violence policies.

These steps mark important progress toward more inclusive systems and protections.

Beyond statistics: real lives, real impact

Behind every number are lives, stories, and communities. Trans people are not abstract figures — they are colleagues, artists, entrepreneurs, friends, and family members. They shape culture, innovation, and collective progress every day.

Moving forward together

The path toward equality requires continued awareness, advocacy, and solidarity. Visibility remains a powerful tool — not only to celebrate identities, but also to challenge injustice and demand lasting change.

🌈 Staying visible, proud, and united is not just symbolic — it is essential.