Every year Transgender Awareness Week takes place on or around the second week of November, which also happens to be Transgender Awareness Month. The dates are the 13th to the 19th of November.
Trans Awareness Week takes place annually in November. It starts in the second week of November, this year it starts on the 13th / 14th depending on whether you’re in the US or UK. The week tries to help raise the visibility of transgender people within society and highlight some of the issues and discrimination that transgender people face.
The week ends with the Transgender Day Of Remembrance. A solemn day of memorial for all the transgender people who have lost their lives to violence. The Transgender Day Of Remembrance takes place on the 20th of November.
Transgender Awareness Week is an opportunity for Transgender people, their allies, and activists to share their stories and experiences with a wider audience.
When did the first Transgender Awareness Week take place?
The very first Transgender Awareness Week took place in
It’s actually unknown when the first Transgender Awareness Week took place however we do know that the first Transgender Day of Remembrance took place in 1999, and was founded by a small group, including Gwendolyn Ann Smith, to memorialize the murder of a transgender woman Rita Hester in Allston, Massachusetts.
The Transgender Day Of Visibility, which was founded in the US by transgender activist Rachel Crandall of Michigan in 2009 took place in 2009.
How many people are transgender in the UK?
There are approximately 200,000-500,000trans people in the UK
According to the UK Government
There is very little data about how many people are transgender or non-binary or gender non-conforming in the UK. According to the government, “No robust data on the UK trans population exists. We tentatively estimate that there are approximately 200,000-500,000trans people in the UK.”
Since it was possible to legally change your gender in the UK in 2004 over 4,910 trans people have been issued a Gender Recognition Certificate.
12% of trans respondents to the National LGBT survey who had started or completed their transition had successfully obtained one, and 7% of those who knew about them but did not have or had not applied for one said they would not be interested in obtaining one.
A powerful video, originally released in 2016, is just as powerful today as it was back then. Six trans people talk about the fears that they faced when they were younger.
The six trans icons each took the opportunity to reveal what they would tell their younger selves if they had the chance.
transgender stars give an insight into the advice they’d just to their younger selves
‘We wanted to make this video to give hope to other people struggling with their identity, gender or even sexuality’
‘Just be yourself, there is light at the end of the tunnel!’
The people involved in the video are models Laith Ashley and Keiran Moloney, British Army officer Hannah Winterbourne, blogger Evie Andrew, Munroe Bergdorf and Jake himself.
Specific transgender pride events are on the rise in the UK for our transgender siblings to show off their pride and be centred within their own events.
Here are the top six transgender pride you have to know about that are happening in 2022 right here in the UK.
Here are some of the transgender prides that are happening in July and beyond.
Where are the biggest trans pride events in the UK?
First on the list is Brighton’s Trans Pride which takes place on the 16th of July 2022, this is probably the most famous of the transgender prides in the UK and one of the longest-running. Brighton’s transgender pride has been running since 2013. It is a grass-roots, community-led organisation staffed entirely by unpaid volunteers
From one of the oldest events to one of the newest, Cornwall Pride in Newquay this year was dedicated to transgender people. It took place on the 14th of May 2022.
Trans prides happen all across the UK. They usually take place between March and July.
Trans Pride London is set to take place this year on the 9th of July, a week after Pride In London.
Trans Pride Southwest is an annual event which takes place in Bristol. Places are still being put together for its 2022 event. Its first event took place in 2019. During the pandemic, it ran a number of online and limited in-person events.
If you live in Northern Ireland you’ll be happy to know that there is usually Trans Pride in Belfast, however, a date is yet to be announced. Its first pride was marched in 2018. Unfortunately due to Covid-19, the last two events had to be cancelled. it is hoped that an event will take place in 2022.
There is a transgender pride in Scotland, however, it’s already had its march. In May a pride event took place in Paisley. Each year the Pride takes place in a different city in Scotland, in 2018 it was in Edinburgh, in 2019 it was in Dundee.
So why does Trans Pride exist in the UK?
As Brighton’s trans pride puts it, “Our aim is to inspire all trans, intersex, gender variant and queer people to help make a real difference by celebrating trans lives and gender diversity. We aim to educate and eliminate discrimination by promoting equality and diversity through visibility, while also celebrating our unique history,”
Should putting your pronoun in emails, zoom calls and texts become standard practice? It can be a brilliant way to show allyship, but it can be deeply scarring for those who are still figuring it out.
I’m going back to school. Yep, I decided that I’m about to change the direction of my life and I’m retraining to become a therapist. It’s been a long time in the making. I used to volunteer for a well-known helpline and I’m always being told that I’m a good listener – heck, interviewing hundreds of people for this publication has really help hone my skills as a listener and good and inquisitive questioner.
But as I readied myself for the classroom, albeit online for the first semester, I was forced to confront an issue that i wasn’t quite ready to confront.
I‘ve spoken briefly before about my own gender identity and the trouble I’ve have it, and whilst I do identify as gay, I’m not entirely sure I identify as a man and whatever that means in today’s society. I’ve written before about how it just doesn’t feel right when someone refers to me that way, but weirdly I don’t mind the he/him/his pronouns, but wouldn’t necessarily attach them to myself. I’m definitely not a they, them their, perhaps more of a Ze/Zim/Zir. I just don’t know and that’s the issue.
This week I received a message from the institute where I’m about to start my course telling all students that pronouns would now be a requirement on Zoom calls. I know that the policy was written without malice and was a well intended piece of inclusiveness, but there’s a couple of reasons why pronoun usage should be encouraged rather than required.
I don’t mind admitting I’m already having anxiety pangs about starting a new course, but the idea of having to write a pronoun next to my name, felt like a chasm, that I’m just not ready or don’t know how to bridge just yet.
I know there will be people who will roll their eyes and say, “get a grip man,” but honestly aren’t we striving for a future where we’re all accepted and included, no matter how we identify or don’t?
I remember a conversation at that well-known helpline where a similar debate raged. Should we include our pronouns on emails and to callers. At the time, I didn’t really take that much notice, except being aware of a dark stirring of being uncomfortable about having to disclose something I haven’t come to terms with myself. A number of issues were raised by some in that meeting about pronouns, mainly that 1) if forced, or required that everyone disclose their identity it might force someone who hasn’t or isn’t quite ready to admit or confirm their identity to come out about it before they are ready. The second point was that if someone is forced to choose a pronoun before they are ready, the identity that they actually share maybe a lie – in order to fit in or because they fear judgement from others. Sitting with that lie next to their name would feel awful and deeply damaging.
The more I thought about it the more I started to tailspin about the first day and about how uncomfortable it might be – not just for me, but someone else who’s really not ready to have the conversation about their identity, especially in front of a group of new people – and over a Zoom call.
So should we use our pronouns wherever and whenever?
Gender is a spectrum and it’s not always easy to find the right words to describe it. Photo by Laker on Pexels.com
I would say this. If you’re comfortable doing it, then do it, particularly if you fear that you might be misgendered. It’s really important that you do let people know how you want to be referred to as.
But if there’s no fear that you will be misgendered, give a moment’s thought about why you’re doing it. It’s an awesome thing to do if your intension is to be an ally, but if it’s anything else, just stick with your name. When enforcing pronouns becomes a blanket policy – a requirement, it stops being a allyship move – and can actually cause more harm than good.
It could also lead employers open to legal issues. Speaking to THEGAYUK back in 2019, Helen Hughes, legal director and employment law specialist at the law firm, Shakespeare Martineau spoke about the legal ramifications on employers asking their employees to state their gender publicly. Hughes told us,
“Although this may be introduced with the best intentions – to address individuals with respect and courtesy in the way that they wish to be referred to – employers must be wary about requesting information from employees that could impact the way they are treated. Although they can’t force you to disclose this kind of information, you should feel comfortable sharing preferred pronouns if you feel it important to do so.
“Forcing employees to reveal their pronoun preferences could leave employers open to discrimination claims, and employees feeling alienated.”
Helen hughes
Luckily after speaking to the institute they reversed the policy and added that people were encouraged to share their pronouns.
The actor formerly known as Ellen Page has said that he is now to be known as Elliot Page as he comes out as transgender in an Instagram post.
The X Men, Umbrella Academy and Tales Of The City star wrote an emotional post telling fans that his pronouns were now he or they, them theirs.
In the letter posted to his Instagram account, Elliot wrote,
“Hi friends, I want to share with you that I am trans, my pronouns are he/they and my name is Elliot.
“I feel lucky to be writing this. To be here. To have arrived at this place in my life.”
“I can’t begin to express how remarkable it feels to finally love who I am enough to pursue my authentic self,” he wrote.
“I’ve been endlessly inspired by so many in the trans community. Thank you for your courage, your generosity and ceaselessly working to make this world a more inclusive and compassionate place. I will offer whatever support I can and continue to strive for a more loving and equal society.”
“My joy is real, but it is also fragile,” he added
“The truth is, despite feeling profoundly happy right now and knowing how much privilege I carry, I am also scared.
“I’m scared of the invasiveness, the hate, the ‘jokes’ and of violence. To be clear, I am not trying to dampen a moment that is joyous and one that I celebrate, but I want to address the full picture.”
Elliot also acknowledged the attacks and slayings of trans folx in 2020 of which there have been at least 40 reported, adding,
“I love that I am trans. And I love that I am queer. And the more I hold myself close and fully embrace who I am, the more I dream, the more my heart grows and the more I thrive. To all the trans people who deal with harassment, self-loathing, abuse, and the threat of violence every day: I see you, I love you, and I will do everything I can to change this world for the better.”
Elliot’s letter to fans, was greatly received and garnered over 407,000 likes and hundreds of positive comments, one of which was from the official Umbrella Academy Instagram account, which simply said, “proud of our superhero!! WE LOVE YOU ELLIOT!!!”
Seemingly for no reason, (as he was originally calling on people to resist the government’s lockdown policies) actor turned politician Laurence Fox waded into a debate on whether trans women are women after being asked by one user of Twitter, “Do you agree that trans women are women?”.
He answered the question in the negative, saying, that he believed that trans women are biological men. “They are not biological women and never will be”.
The question came from a Twitter user Perky Warbeck.
Do you agree that trans women are women?
— Socialist Against Bigotry, Homophobia and Misandry (@OwenJonesStan) October 25, 2020
He also called on the BBC to be defunded after the corporation used its platform to educate children on the importance of gender identity and pronoun usage.
‘The world is against trans people’
Celebrity Big Brother star and journalist India Willoughby responded to Fox’s tweet, saying “I’m a woman. I’m biological. I didn’t choose this. I’ve had to walk through fire to put things right. Merely existing is tough. We have nothing. The whole world is against us.
“Anyone offering a pat on the head or conditional acceptance after what I’ve been through can jog on.
“Lost count of how many non-trans people insist that can’t possibly be so. Based on what? Their own life experience? Born in the wrong body is definitely a thing. Wires get crossed. It’s frustrating and disorientating. Nothing fun or titillating about it.
“Trans people literally can’t win. If you’re a kid they campaign to deny treatments to “protect” you. But become an adult and have the treatment anyway, and the same “protectors” will attack.”
Just in case you weren’t aware that you’re required to socially distance at the moment as the Covid-19 infection rate continues to climb, one dating app has put a visual reminder in its listings.
So aside from signs in supermarkets, on pavements, on public transport, on TV, radio and billboards, you can now get social distance reminders in your dating app.
David Minns – Founder of Butterfly Dating, said “Many regions of the world are now seeing accelerated cases of COVID-19 and additional restrictions. Adding a social distancing zone into the app and site is a simple way to remind people.
“A small graphical change today could save several lives in the coming weeks and months.”
According to the Government, transgender people in the UK, who want to legally change their legal sex are about to find the process “kinder” and more straight forward. The government says it has changed elements of the GRA (Gender Recognition Act), that trans people themselves had raised as concerns about.
The consultation was answered by 108,000 people, 7000 of whom identify a transgender. Of those who had completed their transition, around 2 in 5 said that they had a Gender Recognition Certificate, a higher proportion than is often believed. The survey then asked those who had not applied what had prevented them from doing so. They were able to choose as many reasons as they wanted.
Thirty-eight per cent of respondents said the process was “too bureaucratic” so the process will now be put online. Thirty-Four percentage that the process was too expensive and to address this the government will decrease the cost of obtaining a certificate from £140 to just what it called a “nominal amount”.
Three new gender clinics
The government have also stated that they will open three more gender clinics, a process that will apparently cut the waiting list by around 1600 people.
“The full benefit of the increases in clinical capacity that we’ve been able to secure will lead to greater patient choice, shorter waiting times, better geographical coverage and easier access. It will also make it easier to fulfil the medical requirements of obtaining a GRC”.
According to the Minister for Women and Equalities Liz Truss MP, the UK Government said,
“Britain leads the world as a country where everybody is able to lead their life freely and treated with respect and that, for many years, transgender people have been widely accepted in British society; able to use facilities of their chosen gender; and able to participate fully in modern life.
“At the heart of this is the principle of individual liberty. Our philosophy is that a person’s character, your ideas, and your work ethic trumps the colour of your skin or your biological sex. We firmly believe that neither biology nor gender is destiny
“The Equality Act 2010 clearly protects transgender people from discrimination. The same act allows service providers to restrict access to single sex spaces on the basis of biological sex if there is a clear justification”.
“Missed opportunities”
A spokesperson for Amnesty International said that it was disappointed that the government had not taken the steps to demedicalise the process of changing your legal sex.
Amnesty International UK, Liberty and Human Rights Watch released a co-statement, saying,
“It’s hugely disappointing that the Government has missed this vital opportunity to update the process for legal gender recognition so it meets human rights standards.
“Research has found that medical barriers to gender recognition for trans people are unnecessarily intrusive and can harm their physical and mental health. With medical requirements still in place, trans people will continue to be forced through harmful processes to have their gender legally recognised.
“After a three-year wait, we’re presented with a few administrative changes, which, whilst a step in the right direction, only scratch the surface of what we need to ensure all trans and non-binary people can live equally, freely and fully.”
Once again, the team at GMB decided to tackle Trangender issues following on from JK Rowling’s new book, Troubled Blood about a crossing dressing killer.
Over the weekend, the author’s new book stoked a huge backlash on social media, with #RIPJKRowling become a worldwide trend, after transgender activists took issue with the book’s concept.
Piers and Suzanna were hosting a debate on Good Morning Britain on Wednesday morning, about the public’s reaction to JK’s new book and who should have the right to write about books where the main character was transgender.
GMB booked Benjamin Butterworth (again) to speak about issues surrounding identity politics (because clearly there’s no one else to talk to about transgender issues…) and was answering a question on whether Piers would be able to write a book about a transgender killer, which Benjamin thought might be a problematic concept.
When pushed by Piers to see if it would be okay for him to write about a “person like me” doing all the killing, Benjamin answered, that there were a lot of “cis, rich white men…”
This is when Piers pushed back on the language used by Benjamin saying, “I’m not cis. Don’t call me cis. I’m a white guy. Just call me a white guy.
“Cis is language you use that I don’t even understand.”
We’re not entirely sure why Piers Morgan gets so upset up about gender politics, especially as he does (or has, we can never keep up) identify as a penguin.
The word “Womxn” has been trending on Twitter after a TedTalk’s account said that their use of the word “Womxn” was not a typo. That Tweet went on to be severely ratio’d with over 6,300 comments. Mainly of people complaining about the term.
TEDxLondon wrote, “that’s not a typo: ‘womxn’ is a spelling of ‘women’ that’s more inclusive and progressive. The term sheds light on the prejudice, discrimination, and institutional barriers womxn have faced, and explicitly includes non-cisgender women.”
Which is a good point. If women are being asked to accept womxn shouldn’t men be expected to use mxn?
She wrote, “Womxn but not Mxn? Why would that not be problematic for anyone desirous of inclusive language? Inclusive language must include or it is otherwise”.
There are a number of films on Netflix which follow the stories of transgender people.
Updated September 2020
New to the Netflix list of transgender films is Disclosure, a thoughtful insight into the way in which transgender characters have been used in the past to generate fear and loathing and how transgender actors have historically been shunned from authentic roles.
What transgender films does Netflix currently have on offer?
Born Beautiful
Campy fun. Barbs attempts to rediscover herself until love leaves her true identity and heart in question.
The Death and Life Of Marsha P Johnson, Biography /Documentary
This film reexamines the death of a beloved icon of the trans world while celebrating the story of two landmark pioneers of the trans-rights movement, Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera.
Disclosure, Documentary
A brilliant and thought-provoking documentary film into the portrayal of trans people in film and television. From executive producer Laverne Cox and director Sam Feder comes Disclosure, a documentary that chronicles over 100 years of trans representation on screen, from silent film to Dog Day Afternoon, The 40-Year-Old Virgin to Pose.
Girl, Biography, Drama
Fifteen-year-old ballet dancer Lara faces physical and emotional hurdles as she prepares for gender confirmation surgery. Inspired by a true story.
Laerte-Se, Documentary
After living as a man for nearly 60 years, Laerte Coutinho, one of Brazil’s most brilliant cartoonists, introduces herself to the world
Paris Is Burning, Documentary
This Sundance prize-winning documentary is an intimate portrait of 1980s Harlem drag balls: a world of fierce competition, sustenance, and survival.
Super Deluxe, Drama
Sex, stigma and spirituality merge in these eccentric stories of an angsty teenager, an unfaithful wife and a transgender woman returning to her past.
