Trans Day of Remembrance 20 Nov 2023

This week is Transgender Awareness Week (13-19 November) which focuses on educating the wider community about transgender and gender non-conforming people and to advance advocacy around the issues of prejudice, discrimination, and violence that affect the transgender community.

Transgender Awareness Week ends with a worldwide Trans Day of Remembrance on 20 November, where we remember all those who have tragically lost their lives to anti-transgender violence. This year we will be marking the day with a virtual memorial held on Microsoft Teams on 20 November at 10am-10.30am. We will use this time to come together, honour those who have died, and hold a minute’s silence.

We encourage all staff and students who are free at this time to log on and join us in marking this important date – please join the Trans Awareness Week Teams group to take part in the session.

Professor Debra Humphris CBE, Vice-Chancellor, said: “The International Transgender Day of Remembrance is a stark reminder of the discrimination and violence that too many in the transgender, non-binary and intersex (TNBI) community continue to face, and I am pleased that the University is offering colleagues the opportunity to come together to mark this important event.

“As many of you know, the issue of inclusivity is very dear to my heart. I believe it is vital that the University continues to strive to provide a welcoming and supportive environment where all TNBI people are treated with dignity and respect in the gender in which they identify, and where all staff, students and visitors can be who they are, without fear.”

The Co-chairs of the Trans and Non-binary Staff and Student Support Network, said: “Against the backdrop of increasingly trans-hostile sentiment across UK media and other spheres of public life, it is more important than ever for the University and its staff to renew their commitment to supporting trans, non-binary and intersex colleagues and students and ensuring that everyone can work and study in an environment free of discrimination. The online event organised for this year’s International Transgender Day of Remembrance is a way for all of us to come together in solidarity and honour those who have left us too soon.”

Trans and Non-binary Staff and Student Support Network

Last year, colleagues in the University launched a Trans and Non-binary Staff and Student Support Network to provide a safe space for trans and non-binary staff and students to help each other, find community, share relevant information, and plan activities. Any member of staff or student who identifies as transgender or non-binary (TNBi) is welcome to join and should contact TNBiSupport@brighton.ac.uk to request membership.

Wakelet

The Trans and Non-binary Staff and Student Support Network have developed a Wakelet platform which brings together a range of news, articles and events, as well as links to internal and external support which are relevant to the trans and non-binary community.

Other upcoming events

Local LGBTQ+ organisation Switchboard will also be holding an event to mark Trans Day of Remembrance on 20 November, from 5.30pm-8pm at Community Base.

The evening will be led by special guest facilitator Priss Nash in collaboration with Switchboard’s Grief Encounters and TNBI social prescribing teams. It is open to trans, non-binary and intersex community members only. Register here for your free place.

Useful links and resources

Our pledge

Our #NeverOK pledge builds on the work already underway in continuing to ensure a safe, inclusive and respectful environment for everyone in our community. It represents our commitment to continuing to create a community where harassment and hate are never tolerated – it has no place here and it is #NeverOK. Everyone should feel safe and accepted. Transphobia and any other form of hate have no place here.