Trans Awareness Week runs across the world from 13 November to 20 November.

The week is a time in which the trans community and allies come together to raise awareness of the trans community, share stories and experiences, and educate others on issues faced by the trans and non-binary community, including prejudice, discrimination and violence.

Awareness week concludes with Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR) which is marked on 20 November every year.

What is Transgender Day of Remembrance?

TDoR is observed annually across the world as a day to remember those whose lives have been lost due to transphobia.

Transgender Day of Remembrance was founded by Gwendolyn Ann Smith, a transgender woman and activist, who held a vigil on 20 November 1999 in honour of Rita Hester, a trans woman who was murdered in Massachusetts, USA, in November 1998. The uproar at the lack of respectful coverage of Rita’s identity in the local press led to a web project entitled ‘Remembering Our Dead’, which aimed to honour the names and identities of trans people known to have lost their lives worldwide in the previous 12 months. These victims are honoured and memorialised as part of the services across the world for Transgender Day of Remembrance each year.

The University of Roehampton continues to stand in solidarity with our trans and non-binary community.

How can I get involved?

This year to commemorate TDoR, Roehampton Chaplaincy will have a purple candle alight in the chapels with a copy of the list of names to remember and honour the lives taken by anti-trans hate crimes.

Staff and students will be able to go and sit in the chapels, read the names of the lives lost, pray/mediate or sit in silence. Support information for LGBTQ+ staff can be found on the UR Pride Network page here and support information for students can be found here.

More information about Roehampton Chaplaincy can be found on the portal here.