Transgender Awareness Week
Transgender Awareness Week, which takes place between November 13 – 19, is a week where transgender people and their allies help raise the visibility of transgender people and address issues members of the community face. The week immediately precedes Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Transgender Day of Remembrance
Transgender Day of Remembrance is an annual observance that honors the lives and memory of transgender people who have been killed in acts of anti-transgender violence. Observed on November 20, immediately following Transgender Awareness Week, Transgender Day of Remembrance is a somber occasion and is intended to provide a forum for transgender communities and allies to raise awareness of the continued threat of violence and prejudice faced by transgender people.
Transgender Day of Remembrance was initiated in 1999 by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to honor Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in Massachusetts in 1998.
Did you know that the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation estimates that there are more than 2 million transgender people in the United States?
You can participate in Transgender Day of Remembrance by attending or organizing a vigil on November 20 and by taking the time to educate yourself and others about the violence and discrimination that transgender and gender non-conforming people face in the U.S. and around the world.
Consider attending a local event: LexPride – Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Human Rights Campaign - Report on Violence Against the Transgender Community
Each year, the Human Rights Coalition publishes a report on transgender violence, and in 2020 alone, at least 44 transgender and gender non-conforming people were killed in the United States.
This year, that number has risen even higher. As of November 9, the Human Rights Coalition reported that at least 45 transgender or gender non-conforming people have been killed so far in 2021, making it the deadliest year on record for transgender and non-binary people.
Note: HRC Foundation uses “at least” because too often these stories go unreported or misreported.
See Each Other. Save Trans Lives.
This collaboration between the HRC Foundation and WarnerMedia seeks to amplify everyday stories of resilience, joy and humanity in order to break the connection between anti-trans stigma and violence against the transgender and non-binary community.
How to be an Ally
In addition to honoring this somber observance, you can also take a more active step to be an ally and to help break down the anti-transgender stigmas that too frequently fuel acts of violence.
It is important to recognize that acts of violence are far from the only injustices that transgender people face. According to data from the National Center for Transgender Equality, 63% of respondents reported experiencing serious acts of discrimination – or events that “would have a major impact on a person’s quality of life and ability to sustain themselves financially or emotionally.”
To help break down harmful stigmas, you can take actions like:
- Add your pronouns to your email signature, Zoom ID, and LinkedIn to normalize proactive sharing
- Support chosen names, instead of birth names, to better respect an individual’s identity
- Review GLAAD’s Tips for Allies of Transgender People and GLAAD’s Transgender FAQ
- Engage with the HRC Foundation’s See Each Other. Save Trans Lives. Campaign