Transgender Awareness Week
Transgender Awareness Week is a time to honor
During Transgender Awareness Week takes place each year from November 13 – 19. This is a time where we help raise awareness and visibility to those transgender individuals that have lost their lives due to fatal violence. Therefore, the one-week celebration leads up to the Transgender Day of Remembrance held November 20.
What is the history around Transgender Awareness?
According to GLAAD, Transgender Day of Remembrance began in 1999 by Gwendolyn Ann Smith, a transgender advocate. It was to honor Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in 1998 and the vigil was to commemorate all transgender people that have lost their lives due to violence.
Challenges for transgender individuals
Our transgender community members face many challenges from not feeling safe to disproportionate healthcare. Additionally, the violence they face is unprecedented. For instance, a recent survey found that half of transgender people have been assaulted or raped by an intimate partner. Further, some are attacked fatally simply for being a transgender individual.
What can you do?
Participate in your local Transgender Day of Remembrance or Transgender Awareness Week. For example, let others know you are an ally. Transgender rights and equality are the same as any other human rights issue, bring awareness so our community can stand up and help.
Lifeline Connections is proud to participate and be a sponsor in the upcoming Transgender Day of Remembrance this November 20. Thank you to Summer of Pride Clark County for putting this together!
Transgender resources in Clark County
- PFLAG SW WA
- PFLAG Southwest Washington hosts monthly support meeting for friends and family of LGBTQ people in Battleground and Vancouver, and also a gender identity support group. Email: info@pflagswwa.org
- Queer Youth Resource Center
- Serving lesbian, gay, bi, pan, trans, nonbinary, intersex, asexual/aromantic, queer and questioning (LGBTQ+) youth ages 12-24 and their allies in Vancouver and the greater Southwest Washington area. Email: info@qyrcvancouverwa.org Website: https://www.qyrcvancouverwa.org/
- Vancouver Triple Point (Children’s Home Society)
- Triple Point group is for LGBTQ+ youth ages 11-18. Triple Point exists to empower our youth through education, safety, support and acceptance. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VancouverTriplePoint
- Trans Lifeline
- Run by and for trans people. Trans Lifeline is a grassroots hotline and microgrants 501(c)(3) non-profit organization offering direct emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis – for the trans community, by the trans community. Phone: (877) 565-8860 Website: https://translifeline.org/
