first things first: what is TVPOC?

The Transgender Visibility Project of Ontario County was born out of the voices of trans folks who spoke at the Wood Library vigil for Sam Nordquist. These brave individuals made it very clear that they did not feel safe in this community before Sam was murdered, and they certainly don’t feel safe after.

TVPOC is just one way we can work towards changing that.

TVPOC hosts monthly events that center trans visibility and joy in a variety of public spaces to send a clear message that our trans neighbors aren’t going anywhere. The events are also attended by cis volunteers who, in the event of any hostility out in the community (such as harassment over bathroom use, for example) are expected to circle up to protect trans participants to the best of their ability. This means creating physical space, recording, speaking out, or whatever any situation calls for in the moment.

TVPOC is led by transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse folks. The project must be inclusive of people of all races and people who are neurodiverse, disabled, impoverished, or living with any other circumstance that shapes their unique lived experience. We must strive to show all participants and volunteers that all levels of participation are valid and appreciated, whether in-person or not, financially contributive or not.

At this time, TVPOC does not do any fundraising. We are actively seeking an existing organization in order to keep anything even remotely financial above board. Until that happens, if we plan any kind of event that would require a paid ticket or entry fee, cis allies must pitch in for direct mutual aid to assist transgender participants with low income in attending an event.

If you’re transgender in Ontario County and ready to take up the space you deserve, or cisgender and want to help turn OC into a safe setting for the trans folks who call it home, we hope you’ll join us.

To join the Transgender Visibility Project of Ontario County, you must first read and be in reasonable alignment with the project’s Assumptions and Agreements, as well as our event and social media rules:

Assumptions

• Gender, like most aspects of the human experience, exists on a spectrum
  
• We live in and have been raised in a society that is violently clinging to bigoted cultural norms regarding gender, sexuality, race, faith, and more
  
• We live in a toxic culture. We are conditioned not to see the toxic nature of culture and instead to normalize things that are horrific and absurd
  
• We are practicing what it looks like to build a community that centers accountability and care
  
• We all bring wisdom to this space and we all have things to learn
  
• We must love ourselves into who we want to be
  
• Our different points of privilege and oppression affect how we move through the world and hold space for ourselves and others
  
• Our authentic selves are subject to evolution and change

Agreements

• Queer joy and safety must be our highest priorities
  
• We will center the experience and voices of our transgender members
  
• Cis allies must look to their gender-diverse neighbors and listen to them
  
• We will meet people where they’re at
  
• We do not police anyone’s identity
  
• When someone tells you who they are, believe them
  
• We must challenge ourselves to ignore stereotypes
  
• We will live by the highest standards of confidentiality because it is not our right to share others’ stories
  
• We will expect and accept non-closure
  
• We must give others the opportunity to say “no”
  
• We will name it when we’re having a “first-draft” thought and be open to calling-in for collaboration
  
• When harm happens, we will respond with care when we can. There are different ways to respond, but the person harmed needs to help steer the resolution process

TVPOC event and social media Rules:

• This project must be trans-informed and trans-led.
  If you’re a cis ally, emphasize listening and learning. The voices and experiences of the trans members of this project and our community must be lifted up and absolutely no talking over or talking down to them by cis allies will be tolerated.
  
• Be kind and courteous, unless they’re a nazi.
  We’re all in this together to create a welcoming environment. Respect and kindness are required. Unless it’s Nazis. We’re not kind to Nazis.
  
• No hate speech or bullying.
  Make sure everyone feels safe. Bullying of any kind isn’t allowed, nor is body shaming, fatphobia, biphobia, ageism, or ableism. Degrading comments about things like race, religion, culture, sex work, sexual orientation, gender, or identity will not be tolerated. again, nazis exempt.
  
• Respect everyone’s privacy.
  NO SCREENSHOTS. No identifying information, event details, or any other internal information is to be shared outside this server or project events. What’s shared here stays here. If you think you need to share something with someone outside the project, you MUST get modmin or leader permission.
  
• Sam’s Rule.
  This project was born in the wake of an unimaginable tragedy: the murder of Sam Nordquist in Canandaigua. But Sam lived his own amazing life before coming here. Trans people don’t just die. They live. We are here to center trans joy. This is not the appropriate place for traumatic posts unless a trans group member is reaching out or speaking out. Posts by cis allies that may be triggering and do not directly fall under the aims of the project will be removed.
  
• No self-promotion or business promotion.
  If a local business or venue is recommended as a safe place for an event, that’s great! But no “my tractor store loves trans folks, buy my tractors” posts. “OMG i got this amazing skirt from X Store” is totally fine.

If you’ve read all of the above and are in agreement, you can request to join TVPOC here! If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.