Rachel Crandall Crocker (born 1958) is an American

psychotherapist Psychotherapy (also psychological therapy, talk therapy, or talking therapy) is the use of psychological methods, particularly when based on regular personal interaction, to help a person change behavior, increase happiness, and overcome pro ...

and transgender activist. She founded the community organization ''Transgender Michigan'' to improve transgender lives in Michigan in 1997. In 2009 she founded the International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) as a counterpoint to the only other holiday for transgender people, the Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Early life

Crandall Crocker was born in 1958, in Michigan to a middle-class family. She knew that something was different since childhood, but growing up in the

1960s File:1960s montage.png, Clockwise from top left: U.S. soldiers during the Vietnam War; the Beatles led the British Invasion of the U.S. music market; a half-a-million people participate in the 1969 Woodstock Festival; Neil Armstrong and Buzz ...

didn't come out until 38 years later. In 1985, she graduated from

Michigan State University Michigan State University (Michigan State, MSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan. It was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, the fi ...

with a master's degree in

social work Social work is an academic discipline and practice-based profession concerned with meeting the basic needs of individuals, families, groups, communities, and society as a whole to enhance their individual and collective well-being. Social work ...

. She came out in 1997 as a transgender woman and lost her first marriage, her home and was fired from her job at the hospital she was working at.

Career

After coming out in 1997, she co-founded the community organization ''Transgender Michigan'' with her now wife, Susan Crocker, where she serves as executive director. Through her organization, she provides advocacy, support and education for the transgender community in Michigan. In addition to her advocacy work, she is working as a licensed psychotherapist specializing in transgender issues since 1985. She is also a member of the

National Association of Social Workers The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is a professional organization of social workers in the United States. NASW has about 120,000 members. The NASW provides guidance, research, up to date information, advocacy, and other resources f ...

and provides training and education to therapists on transgender care. In 2009, Crandall Crocker wanted a reason to celebrate the transgender community and founded the International Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31 as a "day to focus on the living" as a counterpoint to the Transgender Day of Remembrance. Since the founding of TDOV, it has been recognized in countries around the world, including the US by President Joe Biden and celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2024. In an interview essay with ''Them'' magazine in 2021, she reflected on the founding of TDOV and how visibility can be a double-edged sword as visibility can also bring the risks of attacks.

Honors and awards

In September 2008, Crandall Crocker received the ''Liberty Bell Award'' to "honor outstanding citizens within the local community" by the

State Bar of Michigan The State Bar of Michigan is the governing body for lawyers in the State of Michigan. Membership is mandatory for attorneys who practice law in Michigan. The organization's mission is to aid in promoting improvements in the administration of jus ...

honoring her service to the community. She was the first transgender person to receive the award. In June 2023, Crandall Crocker was recognized as a Pride Month Game Changers honoree by the

Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...

and

Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...

for her advocacy work.

Personal life

Crandall Crocker identifies as a transgender woman and uses she/her pronouns. She is married to her wife, Susan Crocker and lives in Michigan. She also lives with Tourette syndrome.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Crandall Crocker, Rachel 1958 births 21st-century American LGBTQ people American LGBTQ rights activists LGBTQ people from Michigan Living people Michigan State University alumni American transgender women Transgender rights activists People with Tourette syndrome