Trans Awareness Week and Trans Day of Remembrance

This week, Trans Awareness Week (13 November – 19 November) is an important time for the global LGBTQ+ community as it celebrates the significance of the trans community, culminating in a day of Remembrance (20 November) of those trans lives that have been lost to violence, discrimination, and prejudice. It is my privilege, as the Inclusion Champion for Trans, Non-binary and Gender Non-Conforming People, to highlight this week and the events that will be taking place. 

Trans Awareness Week and Trans Day of Remembrance serve as reminders of the challenges faced by transgender and gender non-conforming individuals while also celebrating their resilience, strength, and contributions to society. This is an opportunity to engage in conversations that educate and promote understanding, and to address the discrimination, violence, and stigma faced by trans individuals globally.

It is essential to acknowledge that transgender people, particularly transgender women from the B.A.M.E. community, disproportionately experience violence and discrimination. Trans Day of Remembrance stands as a sober reminder of the work that still needs to be done to create a world and a community where trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming people can live free from fear and violence.

There are a few different ways to show your support to our trans community this year.

Donate

You can donate to the Gender Affirmation Fund, which is a University of Essex community and alumni-led initiative offering transgender, non-binary and gender non-conforming students funding for gender affirming items such as (but not limited to) affirming clothes / underwear, chest binders, breast forms, packers, wigs, affirming sports / swimwear and makeup / nail polish. These items are often specialised and very costly, but crucial in helping our trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming students to participate fully in our community. This fund was originally launched last year and is managed by the recently launched Trans and Non-binary Staff and Student Forum.

Join

If you are a trans, non-binary or gender non-conforming staff member or student, you might be interested in joining the Trans and Nonbinary Staff and Student Forum. To do so, you may subscribe to the mailing list or contact ssprul@essex.ac.uk. 

Read

Transitional Pathways – information on transitioning, collated by the SU Trans Officer during AY 2022-23, Sam Temple.

SU Advice/SWIS – information on how to contact, and what to expect when you contact support services.

Attend  

20 November – Trans Day of Remembrance Vigil  –  an event open to trans staff and students, as well as allies of the trans community who wish to join them in solidarity from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.