Each year, we observe Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31 – a global awareness day that celebrates the transgender community and calls attention to the challenges we face.This year’s observance comes amid a historically hostile moment for our community in the United States. Record numbers of anti-transgender state policies are being considered or passed into law, executive orders and Supreme Court cases focus on potentially restricting our rights further, and the anti-transgender rhetoric we continue to see and hear online, in the news and in our own day-to-day lives is overwhelming.Despite the outsized political attention we’re receiving right now, we are a tiny demographic. Transgender people make up roughly 1% of the U.S. population. Most Americans say that they do not personally know someone who is transgender, and this lack of familiarity makes it easy for myths and misinformation about us to spread.I believe that this reality is what fuels much of the hostility we’re experiencing. Everyday Americans consistently see the headlines, the hot takes and the debates about us — but very rarely do people get the chance to simply see us as people, as neighbors, as friends with full lives and multifaceted personalities, just like anyone else.Transgender people are full people, and we lead varied and complex lives beyond our gender identities. For example, I am a proud uncle to nine amazing nieces and nephews. I’ve been married to my loving husband for more than a decade. I love reality TV, and I help shovel my neighbor’s sidewalk when it snows.And, in addition to all these things, I also happen to be a transgender man. I am part of the fabric of my community — and transgender people like me have always been part of the fabric of this country.The author celebrating a victory when the New Hampshire legislature voted to protect transgender residents from discrimination, in 2018. Everyone in the photo was part of a coalition called Freedom New Hampshire.Photo Courtesy Of Rodrigo Heng-LehtinenThe topic of “visibility” is complex. It’s beneficial for trans people to be visible; it allows people who are not transgender to see and hear from us, to get to know us, and to understand that we are part of this country, too. But visibility also means being exposed to potential discrimination and harm.Our current climate is incredibly tense — and being a vocal and visible transgender person comes with risks such as being physically threatened, harmed, harassed or discriminated against because of who we are. Many transgender people cannot afford to take these risks, nor should they have to. For me, personally, I choose to be visible. I choose visibility for the trans young people who live in every corner of this country. I want them to know that they, too, can grow up to be a transgender adult who lives a full life.When I was a teenager, I worried deeply that I would never be able to find true happiness. Sadly, far too many trans youth feel the same way today. The Trevor Project’s research found that a staggering 46% of transgender and nonbinary youth in the U.S. seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, and nearly half (47%) reported that they felt their chances of living to reach age 35 were low. While heartbreaking, these feelings are understandable. I can’t imagine being a transgender teenager and also dealing with today’s constant barrage of hostile political rhetoric that says, “You don’t belong.” But today, on Transgender Day of Visibility, I want to make it clear to transgender young people everywhere that they do belong. Trans youth are worthy, they are loved, and they have so many people in this country who have their backs — even when it might not feel that way.Every young person deserves the ability to fantasize about their future – what they want to be when they grow up, where they want to live and the family they want to build. That includes transgender kids.For far too many trans youth, right now, the future looks dim. But they deserve the chance to see that their future is bright and full of possibilities. It’s crucial for trans youth to see that, no matter how high the political temperature rises, trans adulthood is still within reach for them. Always. It wasn’t too long ago that I was a transgender young person myself, worried about how I’d be able to have the future I wanted. But here I am, living my truth and feeling surrounded by love and support as a transgender adult in the U.S.As scary as things are right now, two truths are possible: Trans people are weathering an unprecedented wave of attacks on our rights — and we can still pursue the happy, full and meaningful lives we deserve.Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen is the Senior Vice President of Public Engagement Campaigns at The Trevor Project, the leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ young people. A nationally recognized LGBTQ rights advocate and expert, Rodrigo is also the first openly transgender child of a sitting U.S. Member of Congress.Do you have a compelling personal story you’d like to see published on HuffPost? Find out what we’re looking for here and send us a pitch at pitch@huffpost.com.