What is Transgender Awareness Week?

Transgender Awareness Week is an important moment in the diversity and inclusion calendar dedicated to raising awareness about transgender issues, celebrating the transgender community, and advocating for the rights and well-being of transgender individuals. Taking place annually from November 13th to November 19th, Trans Awareness Week leads up to the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR) on the 20th.

Transgender Awareness Week started in 1999 and throughout the seven-day event transgender people, allies, and advocates come together to raise awareness, inform, and engage on transgender issues. This period offers a platform for sharing stories, advocating for positive change, and discussing the challenges that transgender individuals face daily. It is also a time for encouraging empathy and understanding as well as promoting inclusivity.

Why is Trans Awareness Week important?

1. Visibility and Representation: Transgender Awareness Week provides a platform for transgender individuals to share their experiences, stories, and perspectives. It is an opportunity to spotlight their achievements and contributions to society, thereby increasing visibility and representation. By hearing from transgender voices, many can gain a better understanding of their unique struggles and triumphs.

2. Advocating for Rights and Equality: Transgender individuals still face significant legal and social disparities. Trans Awareness Week serves as a catalyst for advocacy, raising awareness about the need for equal rights and protections for transgender individuals.

3. Combatting Discrimination: Trans Awareness Week helps shed light on the violence and discrimination that transgender people often endure. According to StopHateUK, there were 2630 hate crimes against Trans people reported in 2020/2021 in the UK, which does not take into account that 88% of trans people do not report the hate crimes they experience.

4. Memorialising Lost Lives: The Transgender Day of Remembrance, which marks the culmination of Trans Awareness Week, solemnly reminds us of the lives lost due to anti-transgender violence. It’s a powerful day of reflection.

5. Building Allies: While Trans Awareness Week is primarily focused on educating and advocating for transgender issues, it also encourages allies to get involved. It provides opportunities for non-transgender individuals to show support, learn, and actively contribute to the transgender community.

6. Exploring how Employers can support their transgender colleagues:  Organisations can make employees feel safer and happier at work by recognising  Trans Awareness Week and shine a light on the work they are doing throughout the year, ultimately leading to the better retention of diverse talent and sense of belonging for all colleagues.

What can Employers do to cultivate a trans-supportive culture?

1. Harness the power of your networks to create as many safe places for Trans people and platforms for allies as possible.

2. Raise awareness in the use of pronouns to normalise any changes in how colleagues may wish to be referred to. 

3. Consider introducing gender neutral facilities, communications, and uniforms so that everybody feels accepted, considered and welcome at work. 

4. Ensure your EDI policy is clear and communicated regularly, outlining an ethos of zero-tolerance for intentional and unintentional discrimination. 

5. Provide training and opportunities for awareness, such as internal and external learning sessions, providing reading lists and recommending voices to follow on social media. 

By participating in Trans Awareness Week, we can work together to create inclusive working environments that embrace diversity and ensure the well-being of all individuals, regardless of their gender identity.