SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- The journey of transitioning is not an easy path, but many are celebrating the resilience of the transgender community on International Transgender Day of Visibility.
International Transgender Day of Visibility is celebrated annually on March 31st to raise awareness about transgender people and their experiences. The day is also meant to raise awareness about how to combat discrimination, promote acceptance, and empower the transgender community.
It’s distinct from Transgender Day of Remembrance (November 20th), which focuses on mourning those lost to anti-trans violence.
ABC 10News met with local activists who provide support, visibility, and advocacy through their nonprofit, TransFamily Support Services.
Kathie Moehlig , founder of Trans Family Support Services, started the nonprofit over a decade ago, after her son Sam began his medical transition journey at the age of 11.
Sam Moehlig, now 24-year-old, said he always knew from the time he was a child that his outward appearance didn't match how he saw himself on the inside.
"I wore blue. I cut my hair short; I roughhoused with the boys. I said no to Barbies and no to pink," Sam said. "Then, I didn't see a point in living in a body that wasn't mine. I used to pray every night and say, God, let me wake up as a boy, or don't let me wake up at all."
After a decade-long process transformed Sam from a girl to the man he is today, Sam reflected on his journey with gratefulness.
"I can say I love myself with full pride, and I want that for the rest of the trans community," Sam said.
Sam had his mother Kathie's support every step of the way and even recalled the pivotal moment when she helped him with his life's biggest decision.
"She told me there's this term called transgender, and you can become a boy. I said, ‘Yes, mom, all I ever wanted was to be your son," Sam said.
This personal experience inspired Kathie to found TransFamily Support Services, and she said she has helped about 6,000 families across the U.S. with transgender services for the past decade, including right here in San Diego.
According to San Diego County data, approximately 2.3 percent of local teenagers identify as transgender, highlighting the importance of such support systems.
"We offer support groups and community groups for youth up to age 30. We have 9 different parent support groups. We're starting a grandparents' group," Kathie said. "We do insurance and medical navigation for trans people of all ages, and then we do advocacy, which is really a huge ask right now."
Despite progress, challenges remain. Kathie said she believes California is no longer the sanctuary state for transgender individuals it once was. That is why she will be in Sacramento this week to attend a rally that will advocate for transgender youth protections against newly proposed legislation.
"There is an emboldenedness of individuals who are attacking our kids, whether it's verbally, whether they're being bullied at school, over social media in particular, and it's creating a really hostile, unsafe environment for the entire trans community," Kathie said.
The mother-son duo continues fighting for the same rights Sam struggled with during his own transition. Sam gives one high school example.
"You know, before I became who I am, it was either get beat up in one locker room or get screamed at in another one," Sam said. "And what people don't know is that leads to eating disorders."
Those past experiences fuel Sam's ongoing advocacy work today. Sam is currently a youth ambassador for his mother's nonprofit and the Human Rights Campaign.
Sam said he decided to publicly share his story after losing a friend who was once in his situation.
"That's always what I remind myself of, even though my struggles and difficulties have passed long ago; there are other people for whom the reality I had is their reality today," Sam said. "I'll go speak if this reaches someone just to let them know that they're not alone."
