Transgender Awareness Week & Transgender Day of Remembrance
Transgender Awareness Week takes place November 13-19th, leading up to Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) on November 20th. TDOR began in 1999 as a vigil organized by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith to honour Rita Hester, a Black trans woman whose life was tragically taken in 1998, and has since evolved into a globally observed day to remember and honour all those who have lost their lives to transphobic violence.
The week leading up to this solemn day aims to raise the visibility of trans people, address the challenges they face, and recognize their achievements locally and globally. It also encourages us to reflect on how we can create safe, welcoming, and inclusive environments throughout our school district and beyond. These observances remind us of the importance of treating everyone with kindness, dignity, and respect, while providing an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment as a district to ensuring every member of our community feels included, safe, and valued.
District-recommended resources on allyship and advocacy: