Transgender Awareness Week 2025
/Adapted from and written by: Riley (they/he) and Isaac (any/all), Glow Centre Coordinator 2024-25 (University of Waterloo)
Transgender Awareness Week, observed each year from November 13-19, is an opportunity to support, honour and transgender individuals and communities.
This awareness week leads into the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) on November 20, a day dedicated to honoring the memories of transgender individuals who have lost their lives to transphobic violence. TDOR was initiated in 1999 by activist Gwendolyn Ann Smith to remember Rita Hester, a Black transgender woman whose tragic death highlighted the urgent need for advocacy against such violence. Today, TDOR has grown into a global observance, shining a light on the ongoing violence faced by trans and gender-diverse individuals around the world (GLAAD, 2024; Government of Canada, 2022). **Cis allies please remember that this can be a difficult day for trans folks so please be sensitive around how you choose to discuss and take up space about this day.
Trans Awareness Week
Trans Awareness Week is not only about remembrance but also about visibility, celebration, and advocacy. It serves as a platform to combat the misinformation, discrimination, and barriers that transgender people encounter daily. Throughout this week, advocates and allies come together to educate the public about transgender lives, the diversity within the trans community, and the systemic challenges they face. It’s also a time to amplify stories of resilience and positive contributions from trans, nonbinary, Two-Spirit, and gender-diverse individuals.
Organizations like GLAAD and Egale Canada offer resources to deepen understanding and promote action. For instance, GLAAD’s Media Reference Guide provides terminology and guidelines for accurately and respectfully discussing transgender issues, while Egale Canada supplies resources on gender-inclusive language, allyship, and inclusive policies. Additionally, many institutions, from workplaces to schools, organize workshops, film screenings, and panel discussions that explore trans experiences and the importance of creating supportive environments.
TDOR also highlights the intersectional challenges trans people encounter, particularly trans women of color who are disproportionately affected by violence. The events surrounding TDOR call attention to the need for broader systemic change, from police reform and legal protections to inclusive healthcare and anti-discrimination policies (GLAAD, 2024; Government of Canada, 2022).
The Need for Allyship
The urgency for effective allyship is more pronounced than ever. Rising misinformation, anti-trans policies, and transphobic sentiment across Canada and the world have created an environment where trans individuals, especially youth, face heightened risks to their health, safety, and rights.
Egale Canada emphasizes that allyship is about more than just awareness; it requires proactive steps to dismantle the societal structures that perpetuate discrimination. Allies are encouraged to support gender-inclusive healthcare, advocate for policies that protect trans rights, and foster environments that allow trans people to express their identities without fear.
Educational resources available through Egale Canada, such as their 101 Guides on Affirming Language and the Pronoun Usage Guide, are vital tools for those seeking to better understand and respect trans identities. These resources help allies navigate conversations, use appropriate language, and learn more about the unique challenges facing the trans community today (Egale Canada, 2024).
Trans Awareness Week reminds us of the importance of moving beyond awareness to create tangible change. It calls on each of us to foster an inclusive and respectful society where transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse individuals can live safely and freely. Through education, allyship, and policy advocacy, we can contribute to a world that respects and values everyone.
For further resources, visit GLAAD’s Trans Awareness Week page and Egale Canada’s Trans Awareness Week page, which offer extensive tools to support trans communities and promote equity.
References
Government of Canada. (2022). Transgender Awareness Week.
Egale Canada. (2024, 2025). Trans Awareness Week 2025.
WUSA. Transgender Awareness Week (2025).
Some Local Organizations
QMUNITY | Programs, support, and resources for 2SLGBTQIA+ folk and allies
PFLAG Vancouver
What’s on Queer BC Trans & Gender Diverse • WOQ Resources
Momentum Action Centre : Momentum runs nation-wide programming and advocacy campaigns that help 2SLGBTQIA+ people thrive.
SAGAH (Society for Advocacy for Gender Affirming Healthcare) : SAGAH is a local community-focused, trans-founded society advocating for the healthcare and human rights of Two-Spirit, trans and gender diverse people.
Trans Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is honoured every November 20. Here are local events. **Cis allies please remember that this can be a difficult day for trans folks so please be sensitive around how you choose to discuss and take up space about this day
Remembrance & Resistance: A Teach-In for the Transgender Day of Remembrance on Thursday, November 20, 2025 from 12:30 – 2pm in Farris Hall, Rm 106 UBC
A Trans Day of Remembrance Gathering and drop-in will be held at the Birdhouse (44 W 4th Ave, Vancouver BC) on Thursday, November 20, 2025 from 5pm – 7pm
The Simon Fraser Student Society is hosting an annual Trans Day of Remembrance Vigil on campus and over zoom on Thursday, November 20, 2025 from 5:30 – 7:30pm
A Trans Day of Remembrance Gathering hosted by the Crescent Justice Collective, the Society for Gender-Affirming Healthcare, and the “Vancouver” Trans March will be held on Thursday, November 20th from 7pm-9pm at MacLean Park . This is an outdoor event with food, beverages, and performers.
Non Fiction and Fiction book lists Vancouver Public Library Transgender Awareness Week
Transgender Awareness Week 2025 (Non-fiction) — a staff-created reading list from Kent District Library | Vancouver Public Library | BiblioCommons
Transgender Awareness Week 2025 (Fiction) — a staff-created reading list from Kent District Library | Vancouver Public Library | BiblioCommons
