In recognition of Transgender Day of Visibility, which is on March 31, LGBTQ-rights organization GLAAD, genderqueer activist Jacob Tobia and Instagram teamed up to produce "Kind Comments." The social media project involves several well-known trans people sharing kind comments from their Instagram followers (in the vein of Jimmy Kimmel’s “Mean Tweets” segments).
Trans advocate Angelica Ross, actor Elliot Fletcher and teen activist Zoey Luna are among those who appear in the video and portrait series. A creative team of transgender professionals shot the project, including photographer Amos Mac.
One of the main goals of the project is to increase representation and awareness of the transgender community.
“Only 16% of Americans think they personally know someone who's transgender,” GLAAD's Nick Adams told NBC Out via email, “which is why visibility in the media is so important.”
“While not every transgender person can safely be visible, those who can will spend today showing Americans what it means to be transgender,” he added.
Adams said this year it is especially important to highlight and honor the trans community.
“In a culture where the administration in Washington D.C. and states like North Carolina and Texas are demonizing transgender people, it's more critical than ever that we stand up and share our stories," he said.
Elliot Fletcher, Actor, best known for work on Shameless, Faking It, and The Fosters
Angelica Ross, Transgender advocate
Zoey Luna, Teen activist
Gigi Gorgeous, Star of "This Is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous"
Jacob Tobia, Genderqueer writer and producer
Trace Lysette, Actress, best known for role as 'Shea' on Transparent
Alexandra Grey, Actress, best known for role as Elizah Edwards on Transparent
Schuyler Bailar, Student, trans advocate
Rocco Kayiatos, Hip-hop recording artist