Every year on March 31, people across the world take part in Transgender Day of Visibility to celebrate the lives and contributions of trans people, while also drawing attention to the ongoing challenges this community faces.
Research illustrates gender bias and gender-based violence affect people of all genders, including transgender, nonbinary, and gender expansive communities. Advancing this research is especially important given the recent increase in anti-transgender rhetoric and legislation, as discriminatory laws further exacerbate these inequities and threatens the rights and safety of the transgender community.
WAPPP honors the memory of those in our community, including Rodrigo Ventocilla MPA/ID 2023, and beyond whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence. We invite you to join us in commemorating Transgender Day of Visibility and explore a few resources below that raise the visibility of transgender people and advance research and policymaking related to the trans community.
WAPPP-Funded Student Research
In recent years, we have provided funding for several student research projects related to the transgender community in the U.S. and around the world.
An MPP candidate conducted research for a PAE in winter of 2025-2026 on communicating about transgender rights in the current polarized U.S. political climate. The research aims to address a lack of evidence-based messaging strategies that help organizations and advocates communicate effectively and persuasively about transgender rights, particularly in the context of ballot initiatives, where public debates often shape long-term attitudes and
policy outcomes.
A HSPH student worked at the University of the Philippines in the summer of 2025 on a community-engaged study of trans Filipina women’s (or Pinays) access to health care. The goal of the research was to develop suggestions for government health programs to better support trans Pinays, with particular interest in lobbying for gender-affirming care and sexual and reproductive health services. Notably, the project included community forums where trans Pinays reviewed findings and co-developed guidelines for trans-inclusive health services.
In the summer of 2024 and the following winter for a PAE, a joint HMS/HKS student conducted research on barriers to gender-affirming care in the U.S. and Italy. This work focused on the significant disparities in access to gender-affirming surgery for transgender and gender-diverse individuals in two countries where sociopolitical forces impede access to care, aiming to identify key policy gaps and propose guidelines to improve healthcare access for these marginalized populations.
If you're a Harvard student looking to do similar research, learn more about WAPPP's opportunities for student support.
I gained greater perspective on the interconnectedness of this group of academics, activists, and service providers who have worked together for years towards a healthy and more just future for vulnerable populations, particularly the LGBT community.
WAPPP-funded student researcher
Remembering Rodrigo Ventocilla
Rodrigo came to Harvard determined to create positive change in his communities. In Peru, he was a trans rights activist in addition to his work for the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Economy and Finance. With support from WAPPP, his summer 2022 internship in Johannesburg helped the Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator advance a gender equity and social inclusion framework. Rodrigo is remembered as a fierce LGBTQ+ advocate whose legacy calls us to oppose anti-trans violence and pursue justice for marginalized communities.
More to Explore
- Non-Binary Gender Economics, a 2025 paper published in the Journal of Political Economy Microeconomics by WAPPP affiliate Katherine Coffman
- '3 Things About Non-Binary Gender & Public Policy,' a video with Vanderbilt University professor and WAPPP seminar series presenter Jessica Clarke
- Moving Past the Binary, a recording of a panel discussion asking how the field of gender equity research can shift to include and amplify the voices and lived experiences of transgender and nonbinary communities
- Global Voices Address LGBTQI+ Human Rights, an article from the Carr-Ryan Center about activists pushing back against stigmatization of transgender people and other LGBTQI+ identities