Transgender Awareness Week 2024

Transgender Awareness Week, observed each year from November 13-19, serves as a vital opportunity to uplift and support transgender individuals and communities through education, storytelling, and action. This awareness week leads into the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) on November 20, a day dedicated to honoring the memories of transgender individuals who have lost their lives to transphobic violence. TDOR was initiated in 1999 by activist Gwendolyn Ann Smith to remember Rita Hester, a transgender woman whose tragic death highlighted the urgent need for advocacy against such violence. Today, TDOR has grown into a global observance, shining a light on the ongoing violence faced by trans and gender-diverse individuals around the world (GLAAD, 2024; Government of Canada, 2022). 

Understanding Trans Awareness Week

Trans Awareness Week is not only about remembrance but also about visibility, celebration, and advocacy. It serves as a platform to combat the misinformation, discrimination, and barriers that transgender people encounter daily. Throughout this week, advocates and allies come together to educate the public about transgender lives, the diversity within the trans community, and the systemic challenges they face. It’s also a time to amplify stories of resilience and positive contributions from trans, nonbinary, Two-Spirit, and gender-diverse individuals. 

Organizations like GLAAD and Egale Canada offer resources to deepen understanding and promote action. For instance, GLAAD’s Media Reference Guide provides terminology and guidelines for accurately and respectfully discussing transgender issues, while Egale Canada supplies resources on gender-inclusive language, allyship, and inclusive policies. Additionally, many institutions, from workplaces to schools, organize workshops, film screenings, and panel discussions that explore trans experiences and the importance of creating supportive environments (GLAAD, 2024; Egale Canada, 2024). 

The Need for Allyship

The urgency for effective allyship is more pronounced than ever. Rising misinformation, anti-trans policies, and transphobic sentiment across Canada and the world have created an environment where trans individuals, especially youth, face heightened risks to their health, safety, and rights.  

The Cable News Network (CNN) states that from November 5th until November 14th, 2024, calls to The Trevor Project crisis line increased by over 700%, and Trans Lifeline, another crisis line, received more calls than they could handle (CNN,2024). With more anti-trans legislation becoming law, there has been a 72% increase in suicide rates, as well as a 16% increase in anti-trans hate crimes (CNN, 2024). In 2023, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRCF) released a report on 2SLGBTQIA+ youth. This report included statistics about mental health, such as how 60% of transgender and gender-expansive youth screened positive for depression, and 68.2% screened positive for anxiety. This is considerably more than cisgender and heterosexual youth report their mental health (HRCF, 2023). If we continue the way we are, rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide will continue to rise.  

Egale Canada emphasizes that allyship is about more than just awareness; it requires proactive steps to dismantle the societal structures that perpetuate discrimination. Allies are encouraged to support gender-inclusive healthcare, advocate for policies that protect trans rights, and foster environments that allow trans people to express their identities without fear. 

Educational resources available through Egale Canada, such as their 101 Guides on Affirming Language and the Pronoun Usage Guide, are vital tools for those seeking to better understand and respect trans identities. These resources help allies navigate conversations, use appropriate language, and learn more about the unique challenges facing the trans community today (Egale Canada, 2024).  

Honouring Trans Lives: The Importance of Transgender Day of Remembrance

Transgender Day of Remembrance stands as a solemn reminder of the violence and discrimination trans people continue to face. Each year on November 20, communities worldwide hold vigils where the names of transgender individuals lost to violence are read aloud. These events provide space for reflection, grieving, and a recommitment to supporting the trans community. Vigils are often hosted by LGBTQ+ organizations, community centres, and places of worship, creating inclusive and supportive environments to collectively mourn and raise awareness. The Glow Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity will be hosting one of these vigils on the evening of November 20, 2024 in the Black and Gold Room in SLC on the University of Waterloo main campus. 

TDOR also highlights the intersectional challenges trans people encounter, particularly trans women of color who are disproportionately affected by violence. The events surrounding TDOR call attention to the need for broader systemic change, from police reform and legal protections to inclusive healthcare and anti-discrimination policies (GLAAD, 2024; Government of Canada, 2022). 

Participating in Trans Awareness Week

Those looking to participate can take several meaningful actions during Trans Awareness Week. Individuals and organizations are encouraged to: 

• Attend Local Events: Many cities host events like film screenings, art shows, and panel discussions to honor Trans Awareness Week. 

• Educate Yourself and Others: Resources from GLAAD and Egale Canada offer guides on using affirming language, understanding pronoun usage, and learning about inclusive practices for workplaces and schools. 

• Advocate for Policy Change: Support local and national policies that protect trans rights, particularly in healthcare, employment, and education sectors. Egale Canada’s action plans provide roadmaps for advocating for trans rights in different sectors. 

• Honour TDOR: Attend or organize a vigil on November 20 to honor the lives lost to transphobic violence. This is a powerful way to show solidarity with the trans community. 

A Call to Action for Allyship

Trans Awareness Week reminds us of the importance of moving beyond awareness to create tangible change. It calls on each of us to foster an inclusive and respectful society where transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse individuals can live safely and freely. Through education, allyship, and policy advocacy, we can contribute to a world that respects and values everyone. 

For further resources, visit GLAAD’s Trans Awareness Week page and Egale Canada’s Trans Awareness Week page, which offer extensive tools to support trans communities and promote equity. 

Written by: Riley (they/he) and Isaac (any/all), Glow Centre Coordinators

References 

• GLAAD. (2024). Transgender Awareness Week. Retrieved from https://glaad.org/trans-awareness-week. 

• Government of Canada. (2022). Transgender Awareness Week. Retrieved from https://canada.ca. 

• Egale Canada. (2024). Trans Awareness Week 2024. Retrieved from https://egale.ca.