March 31, 2021
(The LOFT LGBTQ+ Community Center, White Plains NY)
View full press conference here: Transgender Day of Visibility, Westchester NY 2021 - YouTube
Release sourced from Westchester County Government:
WESTCHESTER COUNTY CELEBRATES TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY
ENCOURAGES USE OF PERSONAL PRONOUNS
(White Plains, NY) – International Transgender Day of Visibility is celebrated annually on March 31. It’s a day dedicated to celebrating transgender people and raising awareness of discrimination faced by the transgender community globally.
This year, Westchester County Executive George Latimer, The LOFT and the County’s LGBTQ Advisory Board is encouraging County employees and other local businesses around Westchester to continue to create a community of acceptance and support by asking them to add personal pronouns to their email signature and using them in other places when appropriate.
Latimer said: “Everyone deserves to have their identity and personhood respected in the workplace. This is a simple way to show we care about and respect others. When we can show up to work, especially in County government, and be who we are, with reasonable expectation of safety and respect, we are all better for it.”
LGBTQ Advisory Board Chair Chris Oldi said: “The LGBTQ community is grateful to have a strong advocate in County Executive Latimer. By recognizing International transgender Day of Visibility, as well as recognizing the importance of including pronouns in email signatures for County employees, it signals respect for our community.”
The LOFT Center Executive Director Judy Triolo said: "We are so thankful to County Executive Latimer for always being an ally to the LGBTQ+ Community and for making pronoun inclusion a priority. Pronoun inclusion matters; it's a small but meaningful way of being respectful towards others. It eliminates assumptions based on appearances and makes clear how a person wishes to be called. It also prevents someone from being misgendered, which can be a painful experience."
LOFT Employee & Co-facilitator of the Trans-Peer Support Group Mia Edwards said: “When we talk about this day, know that it is about one thing – dignity. Giving Trans folks the dignity to be heard and the dignity to be respected.”
About Westchester County
Westchester County, located in the heart of the historic Hudson Valley, covers 500 square miles and has a population of just under a million. Originally home to Native Americans, who were members of the Lenape tribe, it is today a rich mix of many cultures and landscapes. The County is a blend of bustling cities, quaint villages and picturesque towns as well as open spaces and a network of beautiful parks. Westchester is made up of 6 cities, 19 towns and 20 villages. Westchester County is known for top-notch public schools, and a high quality of life. The County is also an intellectual capital, boasting a highly educated workforce, competitive colleges and universities, Fortune 500 companies, world changing non-profits, and cutting-edge research centers. Westchester is led by County Executive George Latimer, who took office in January 2018 as the ninth County Executive. Using inclusion and openness as a foreground, Latimer is fighting to make Westchester a destination for all people to live, work and enjoy. Learn more about Westchester County by visiting www.westchestergov.com
