Transgender Awareness Week
{{Short description|Celebration leading to Transgender Day of Remembrance}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox holiday
|holiday_name = Transgender Awareness Week
|type = cultural
|longtype =
|image =
|caption =
|imagesize =
|official_name =
|nickname =
|observedby = Transgender community and supporters
|begins =
|ends =
|duration = 2 weeks
|frequency = annual
|scheduling = varies
|date = November
|date2013 = November 4–17
|date2014 = November 3–16
|date2015 = November 2–15
|celebrations =
|observances =
|relatedto = Transgender Day of Remembrance, International Transgender Day of Visibility
}}{{Transgender sidebar}}
Transgender Awareness Week, observed November 13 to November 19, is a one-week celebration leading up to the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR), which memorializes victims of transphobic violence. TDoR occurs annually on November 20, when transgender advocates raise awareness of the transgender community through education and advocacy activities.{{cite web | url=http://www.glaad.org/transawarenessweek | title=Transgender Awareness Week #TransWk and Transgender Day of Remembrance #TDOR | publisher=GLAAD | access-date=October 19, 2015 | archive-date=December 6, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206133036/http://www.glaad.org/transawarenessweek | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url=http://www.lambdalegal.org/blog/20131114_trans-awareness-week-2013 | title=Transgender Awareness Week 2013 | publisher=Lambda Legal | date=November 14, 2013 | access-date=December 9, 2013}}{{cite news | url=http://foghorn.usfca.edu/2013/11/its-transgender-awareness-week-want-to-learn-more/ | title=It's Transgender Awareness Week. Want to learn more? | work=San Francisco Foghorn | date=November 13, 2013 | access-date=December 9, 2013 | last=Fazio | first=Allison | archive-date=December 12, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212084708/http://foghorn.usfca.edu/2013/11/its-transgender-awareness-week-want-to-learn-more/ | url-status=dead }}
The first week of November typically begins with third parties hosting events at venues (including online venues) surrounding a main central venue, followed the second week by more venues at the main area showcasing more and more in-depth events.{{cite web | url=http://www.masstpc.org/community-events/trans-awareness-week/ | title=Trans Awareness Week | publisher=Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition | access-date=December 9, 2013}}{{cite web | url=http://www.outboulder.org/content/transgender-awareness-week | title=Transgender Awareness Week | publisher=Out Boulder | access-date=December 9, 2013 | archive-date=March 3, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234523/http://www.outboulder.org/content/transgender-awareness-week | url-status=dead }} The purpose of Transgender Awareness Week is to educate about transgender and gender non-conforming people and the issues associated with their transition or identity.
History
{{Off topic|date=November 2019|Transgender history}}
There have been many pivotal historical moments that relate to transgender advocacy.
- 1952: Christine Jorgensen is featured in American national media – provided a large number of people with access to information about transgender issues for the first time as she was the first American publicly known to have undergone sex reassignment surgery.
- 1954: news of the first known British trans woman, Roberta Cowell, broke, gaining public interest around the world.
- 1964: American trans man Reed Erickson creates the Erickson Educational Foundation – the first foundation to donate millions to promote transgender and gay equality.
- 1972: Sweden legalizes gender reassignment – the first country to legally allow citizens to change sex.
- 1975: the Gender Dysphoria Clinic at Queen Victoria Hospital, Melbourne was established by Trudy Kennedy and Herbert Bower.
- 1979: the Victorian Transsexual Coalition and the Victorian Transsexual Association is formed, Australia's first transgender rights and advocacy organisations were established.
- 1979: A Change of Sex, the BBC documentary about male to female transgender person Julia Grant.
- 1986: Lou Sullivan founds FTM International – the first advocacy group for transgender men; the purpose was to challenge the popular idea that all trans men were lesbians before they transitioned into male.
- 1998: Rita Hester's murder – murdered on November 28 because of gender identity, a candlelight vigil was held on December 4 to honor Hester's life; death lead to inspiration for the idea of the first International Transgender Day of Remembrance started by trans woman Gwendolyn Ann Smith.
- 1999: The murder of PFC Barry Winchell for dating a trans-woman Calpernia Addams.
- 1999: The first observance of International Transgender Day of Remembrance to commemorate victims of anti-transgender hate crimes, observed on November 20.
- 2002: Transgender Law Center founded – aimed to alter laws and opinions regarding transgender people so they could live a life without discrimination based on gender identity.
- 2002: Sylvia Rivera Law Project founded – provides legal and educational services and works towards altering policies.
- 2003: National Center for Transgender Equality founded – founded to progress the equality of transgender people through advocacy, collaboration, and empowerment.
- 2007: "Born In The Wrong Body", The first American documentary about both male to female and female to male transgender airs on MSNBC featuring Juan LaPerla (John Stepanian), and the House of LaPerla.
- 2007: "Born In The Wrong Body: On The Edge", The second in the Born In The Wrong Body series showcasing the New York underground ballroom scene with Juan LaPerla (John Stepanian) and the House of LaPerla.
- 2009: The first observance of International Transgender Day of Visibility - This day was created by Michigan transgender activist Rachel Crandall Crocker to serve as a positive counterpart to Transgender Day of Remembrance, it is celebrated living trans people and raises awareness to transgender issues, observed on November 20.
- 2010: the Australian Defence Force policy was amended to allow transgender Australians to openly serve.
- 2010: Gender Health Center, Sacramento, California, United States of America opened its doors.
- 2012: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission declares transgender people protected against employment discrimination because of violations to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
These are just a few of the many important moments that have led to increased transgender advocacy and awareness.{{cite web|title=Transgender Visibility Timeline|url=http://www.glaad.org/files/visibilitytimeline.png|website=glaad.org|access-date=October 21, 2015}}
Events
Participants in Transgender Awareness Week are encouraged to organize events that serve as educational opportunities to the community. One possible event is the screening of a trans-themed movie, such as the film Paris is Burning, which highlights gay and transgender ball culture in New York City.{{cite web|title=Trans Awareness Week|url=http://www.masstpc.org/community-events/trans-awareness-week/|website=masstpc.org|access-date=October 20, 2015}} Another educational event is the personal testimonies of local transgender people and the issues they face because of their gender identity. "I AM: Trans People Speak" is a collection of videos regarding transgender people's personal testimonies that could be shown in place of a live testimony. Other events have revolved around the discussion of trans-themed books or the observation of a trans-themed art show or performance.
In San Francisco, Transgender Awareness Week was expanded to cover the entire month of November starting in 2018 by Mayor London Breed and Clair Farley, director of the city's Office of Transgender Initiatives.{{cite news|last=Madison|first=Alex|date=November 14, 2018|title=Breed declares Trans Awareness Month|work=Bay Area Reporter|url=https://www.ebar.com/news/news//268251|access-date=December 29, 2020}} In November 2019, each member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors gave a commendation to a member of the trans community.{{cite news |title=SF supervisors honor transgender leaders |url=https://www.ebar.com/news/news//284716/sf_supervisors_honor_transgender_leaders |access-date=November 28, 2019 |work=Bay Area Reporter |date=November 20, 2019}}
Additional information with controversies
A study conducted by the Williams Institute in 2016 concluded that 0.6% of the U.S. population (1.4 million people) identify themselves as transgender.{{cite web |title=Estimate of U.S. Transgender Population Doubles to 1.4 Million Adults |last1=Hoffman |first1=Jan |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/01/health/transgender-population.html |date=June 30, 2016 |website=The New York Times |access-date=August 7, 2017}} In 2008, only 8% of Americans reported knowing or working with someone who is transgender; by 2015, this had doubled to 16%, according to a Harris poll,{{Cite news|url=https://www.glaad.org/releases/number-americans-who-report-knowing-transgender-person-doubles-seven-years-according-new|title=Number of Americans who report knowing a transgender person doubles in seven years, according to new GLAAD survey|date=2015-09-16|website=GLAAD|language=en|access-date=2019-03-27}} and by 2021, this had risen to 42% according to a Pew poll,{{cite web|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/07/27/rising-shares-of-u-s-adults-know-someone-who-is-transgender-or-goes-by-gender-neutral-pronouns/|title=Rising shares of U.S. adults know someone who is transgender or goes by gender-neutral pronouns | date=July 27, 2021|website=Pew Research Center|access-date=November 4, 2021}} but it is still far less than the number of Americans who know someone who is gay or lesbian (87%, as of 2013, according to a Pew poll).
Trans people face many issues within their community that cause them to feel like they are in danger and are unsafe.{{cite web|last1=Land|first1=Abbe|title=Recognizing Transgender Awareness Week|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/abbe-land/recognizing-transgender-awareness-week_b_6188542.html|website=HuffPost|date=November 19, 2014|access-date=October 22, 2015}} A survey found that 50% of trans people report having been raped or assaulted by a romantic partner.{{cite web|last1=Pan|first1=Landyn|title=Why Trans People Need More Visibility|url=http://www.transstudent.org/transvisibility|website=transstudent.org|access-date=October 22, 2015}} Trans people have been murdered simply for being trans,[http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=entertainment&sc=music&sc2=features&sc3=&id=83392 'Remembering Rita Hester'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105022024/http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=entertainment&sc=music&sc2=features&sc3=&id=83392 |date=November 5, 2014 }} November 15, 2008, Edge Boston in addition to their loved ones and/or friends because of being involved with them.New York Times: [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9902E5DB1E3AF93BA15756C0A9669C8B63 David France, "An Inconvenient Woman," May 28, 2000], accessed March 12, 2012 Some trans women were arrested for fighting back against their attacker.{{cite web|last1=Strangio|first1=Chase|title=From Dee to Patti: Transgender Women Fighting Back Against Sexual Assault in Detention|url=https://www.aclu.org/news/smart-justice/dee-patti-transgender-women-fighting-back-against-sexual|website=aclu.org|access-date=November 14, 2023}} Trans people and supporters formally united with one another and took stands against discrimination towards trans people by holding protests. Transgender Awareness Week was established in response to these killings and imprisonments in order to highlight the challenges faced by trans people.
See also
References
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External links
- [http://transgenderlawcenter.org Transgender Law Center website]
- [http://www.masstpc.org/ Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition website]
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