American activist Rachel Crandall, a psychotherapist and co-founder of a transgender support organization in Michigan, launched International Transgender Day of Visibility in 2009, after noticing that most media coverage of transgender people focused solely on stories of violence and discrimination, with no day celebrating their lives and achievements while they were alive. Since then, the day has been marked every March 31 around the world, gaining growing momentum over the years to become an occasion formally recognized by a number of governments, international institutions, and human rights organizations. The day celebrates the diversity of transgender people's experiences and their contributions to their communities, while also highlighting the challenges they continue to face in accessing healthcare, employment, and personal safety. Human rights organizations and local communities worldwide mark the occasion with awareness events, marches, and campaigns sharing personal stories that highlight the achievements and experiences of transgender people.