Observed each year on March 31, International Transgender Day of Visibility is a day to celebrate the courage it takes to live openly and authentically, while also recognizing the leadership of transgender and gender nonconforming trailblazers who have led the charge in the fight for equality.

From Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera to modern-day activists and “possibility models” like Diego Sanchez, Janet Mock, Masen Davis, Laverne Cox, JoAnne Keatley and Cecilia Chung, we pay tribute to all those who have boldly shared their stories, spoken out against discrimination, and smoothed the path toward equality and acceptance for all those who follow in their footsteps.

For more information on International Trans Day of Visibility, check out the full piece by the Human Rights Campaign. You can also take a look at their Transgender Visibility Guide, designed to help you and your loved ones through the process of discovering expressing your gender identity in realistic and practical terms.

You might also be interested in the HRC’s four-part video series entitled Debunking the Myths: Transgender Health and Well-Being:

Myth One: Surgery is a Top Priority for All Transgender People

Myth Two: Providing Trans-Inclusive Benefits is Prohibitively Expensive for Companies

Myth Three: My Child is Too Young to Know They’re Transgender

Myth Four: Transgender Healthcare is “Special Care”