Trans Awareness Week!
What was Trans Awareness week? (Nov. 13- Nov. 19)
Lasting from November 13th to November 19th, Trans Awareness week is a time for trans people and allies to fight against prejudice and discrimination against the trans community. Through sharing stories and personal experiences, lives lost to violence against transgender individuals are honored. The Transgender Day of Remembrance ends the week's activities on November 20th.
What is the Transgender Day of Remembrance?
Transgender Day of Remembrance is a day to honor those who lost their lives due to anti-transgender violence. To remember those that were lost, trans communities, organizations, activists, advocates, and allies hold events and vigils on this day. People gather together to raise awareness of the constant threats and prejudice faced by trans people and the need to speak up against it.
Some terms to know about
Gender is what a person chooses to identify as socially. This is different from biological or birth sex, which is assigned to a person based on hormones, chromosomes, and reproductive organs at birth. A person may choose to express their gender to the world in different ways such as hair, clothing, behaviour, etc. This is their gender expression.
To be transgender means that the gender one identifies with is not the same as the one assigned to them at birth. To refer to anybody with the incorrect pronouns is disrespectful, the same goes for transgender individuals. Trans people typically use the pronouns of their identified gender, not biological sex.
Sometimes, the pronouns they/them are used for somebody that identifies as non-binary (in some cases, she/her or he/him can also be used interchangeably). While non-binary people do not identify with their birth sex, they do not feel inclined to fall into the male nor female category.
Trans individuals may experience Gender Dysphoria. Those with Gender Dysphoria deal with disstress and uneasiness due to the mismatch between their assigned sex and gender identity. Peer support may help to ease this condition.
Violation and Discrimination Towards Trans people
Social and economic discrimination against transgender people occur on a daily basis. Trans people face prejudice and bias from companies, media, and peers around them. Bias can become so serious that people may face exclusion socially, exclusion from job opportunities, exclusion from sport, targets for bullying, and even physical/sexual assault. 1 in every 5 trans people are denied medical service and live without healthcare. As much as 40% of the homeless popualtion is made of transgender individuals. Unequal treatment unfortunately makes this group more vulnerable to physical and mental illness and as a result, more likely to struggle with thoughts related to suicide.
What can you do to support the Trans community?
Allies can show support starting with small actions.
Always ask before referring to somebody if unsure of their appropriate pronouns and avoid assumptions. If you have referred to somebody with incorrect pronouns, apologize and correct your mistake.
Keep an open mind and support those around you by being a good listener and stopping the making of transphobic jokes or comments.
Help trans voices be heard
Fight against discrimination. write to your local government about transgender rights and policies
Speak out against discrimination and esclusions regarding the trans community
Advocate for education and acceptance of the trans community
