Trans Awareness Resources
What Does Transgender Mean?
Transgender or trans is an umbrella term for a gender identity different from one’s sex assigned at birth. Trans people have always existed, and under the trans umbrella, people identify in a variety of ways such as transmasculine, transfeminine, MTF, FTM, gender non-conforming, genderfluid, non-binary, genderqueer, Two Spirit, Hirja and more. There are many different ways to be trans from all around the world.
Transgender people are at risk of higher rates of discrimination. Scholars and activists committed to advancing intersectional approaches to trans politics continue to highlight the importance of seeing transphobic violence as inherently connected to race, gender, ablism and class. This is reflected in the disproportionate instances of violence against trans women of color in general, Black and Latina transgender women in particular.
What is Transgender Awareness Week?
Transgender Awareness Week is a week when transgender people and their allies bring attention to the trans community by educating, sharing stories/experiences, and advocating around issues of prejudice, discrimination, and violence.
Transgender Awareness Week takes place annually November 13 – 19, the week before Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20. Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), is an annual observance on November 20 that honors the memory of transgender people across the world whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence that year.
When Did TDoR Start?
Transgender Day of Remembrance was founded in 1999 by a small group, including Gwendolyn Ann Smith, Nancy Nangeroni, and Jahaira DeAlto, to memorialize the murders of Black transgender women Rita Hester in Allston, Massachusetts, and Chanelle Pickett in Watertown, Massachusetts. Today it is recognised all over the world at local candlelight vigils and online projects such as Remembering Our Dead.
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgender_Day_of_Remembrance
https://tdor.translivesmatter.info/
Written by community member Christian.
Last updated: 01.11.2024
List of Transgender Organisations
This is a non-exhaustive list of Transgender organisations from around the world, some additional organisations are listed here and plenty more online.
Queer Disability Studies Network – brings together researchers/academics.
Trans PhD Network an informal Facebook group for trans people doing PhDs.
Irish Sexualities and Genders Research Network
- Global Action for Trans Equality (GATE) was founded in 2009 as a coordinating network for trans organizations around the world. As a trans-led advocacy charity, GATE calls for equality and dignity for people of all gender identities and expressions.
The Asia Pacific Transgender Network (APTN) is a trans-led organization advocating for the rights of trans and gender-diverse people in Asia and the Pacific.
The Sahodari Foundation supports India’s transgender and gender non-binary community.
Transgender Europe (TGEU) is a trans-led charity that represents 200+ member organisations in 50+ countries (lists of country specific organisations available on the website https://tgeu.org/our-members/). It works to protect the rights and well-being of trans people in Europe and Central Asia.
RedLacTrans – the Network of Trans People in Latin America and the Caribbean – is a regional network of 25 organizations led by trans people. It provides listings of country specific organisations for support in the region.
Egale is a Canadian charity advocating for equal societies and systems free from homophobia, transphobia and all forms of oppression. It has resources in English and French
The US-based National Center for Transgender Equality and the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund merged into Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE) in 2024. With its team of policy experts, community organizers and litigators, the trans-led organization advocates for human rights while providing the community with knowledge and services.
Gender Dynamix is committed to advancing transgender rights in Africa.
Be True 2 Me is a non profit orginisation in South Africa supporting Trans Gender/ Non-Binary / Intersex / Gender Queer individuals and those connected with them.
Trans Hub is an overall resource that offers basic information and advice about the trans experience, as well as advice for allies and clinicians.
Transgender Victoria engages in advocacy, training and resource development in Victoria, Australia.
Trans At Work Guidance from the Queensland Human Rights Commission gives advice for how to approach gender diversity in the workplace from the perspective of employee, employer and work colleagues.