LGBTQ+ Resource Centre, First Year Experience, and The Centre for Human Rights, Equity & Inclusion will mark Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR) on Monday, November 21, and we invite the Humber community (staff, faculty, and students) to join us.
About Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR)
Transgender Day of Remembrance (Sunday, November 20) has been observed around the world since 1999. TDoR was created by trans advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith to honour and memorialize Rita Hester, a Black trans woman who was killed. Since its inception, this day is a vigil to commemorate the trans, Two-Spirit, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people’s lives that were lost in acts of transphobia and anti-trans violence.
On Transgender Day of Remembrance, we come together as a community to raise awareness about transphobia and prejudice resulting in anti-trans hate crimes and multiple lost lives. We also carve out time and space to honour and commemorate the loss of trans lives, particularly those of trans women of colour, that are often dismissed by mainstream media despite many being at the forefront of queer and trans liberation justice movements. Finally, this is a specific day of significance to express our love and care for the victims of transphobic violence and trans antagonism through honouring their lives and personhood as a community.
Humber College and the University of Guelph-Humber will be recognizing Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 21 by lowering flags at our campuses to half-staff.
You can join in several events both in-person at the North and Lakeshore campuses and virtually.
TDoR Events at Humber:
A Transgender Journey from Lived Experience
Date: Monday, November 21 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Michelle Emson (she/her) shares her journey of transition in the context of Transgender Day of Remembrance. Learn from Michelle’s lived experience and acquire a richer understanding of some of the challenges that are faced by trans people in society, in work, and in life daily.
Remembering Trans Lives
Join the LGBTQ+ Resource Centre & First Year Experience for a public memorial Remembering Trans Lives where we will honour and celebrate trans people’s lives by recognizing the names of the reported trans lives lost in 2022, attend a candle vigil and observe a moment of silence. The moment of silence will take place from 12 p.m. to 12:15 p.m.
- North Campus, LRC Concourse
Monday, November 21 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. - Lakeshore Campus, First Year Experience Lounge, Welcome building
Monday, November 21 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Impacts of Trauma on Trans and Two Spirit Communities
In this community-organized and community-led event, Teddy Syrette (Ozhawa Anung Kwe/Yellow Star Woman; they/them), a 2-Spirit and First Nation Anishnabe from Rankin Reserve of Batchewana, will discuss the importance of understanding and unpacking the impacts of violence, prejudice, and trauma for the well-being of Trans and Two-Spirit communities.
Date: Monday, November 21 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
There are two ways to join the talk:
- Join online by registering
- Watch the talk in the LGBTQ+ Resource Center (E140 at North Campus or WEL211 at Lakeshore Campus)
TDoR events are for 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. Aspiring allies are encouraged to attend but please be respectful of the community spaces and resources, and that this is a grieving time for the queer and trans communities.
On behalf of Student Success & Engagement and the Centre for Human Rights, Equity & Inclusion, we encourage you to attend an event, pause, and reflect on how you/we can strengthen our support and stand in solidarity with the trans, Two-Spirit, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming communities at Humber College and the University of Guelph-Humber.