Blog

Transgender Awareness Month

By Ashley Kral on November 19, 2017
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In the month of November, we celebrate the lives of the beautiful members of the transgender community and remember the lives of our brothers and sisters that have been lost due to hate crimes around the world. Did you know that the highest percentage of death due to hate crimes are against transgender women of color? Unfortunately, that is the sad truth. We dedicate this month to those who have lost their lives because of that truth, and we continue fighting for them every day.

The fight for all LGBTQ+ rights was mainly started by two transgender women, Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera who threw the first rocks during the Stonewall Riots in June of 1969. The Stonewall Riots were acts against police raids that took place in gay clubs and bars. Members of the LGBTQ+ community gathered together to take a stand against the constant police harassment and discrimination. These riots caused the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement to take off, and it wouldn’t have been possible without Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera.

Many events take place during Transgender Awareness Month, leading up to Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20th. These events consist of rallies, protests against trans violence and discrimination, gatherings at local LGBTQ+ centers, and candlelight vigils to honor those in our trans community that have lost their lives. Transgender Day of Remembrance was started by Gwendolyn Ann Smith, a transgender advocate, to honor Rita Hester who lost her life in 1998.

November is an especially important month for the LGBTQ+ community. We take this month to celebrate the lives of our transgender family. Although it is tragic and heartbreaking to focus so much on those who have unfairly lost their lives, it is so crucial to inform everyone around us that this is real and it still happens. People need to be aware of it. Taking action is so important, and that is what Transgender Awareness Month is all about.

Sending so much love to the entire transgender community. We stand with you.

For more information regarding The Bulldog Pride and other LGBTQ+ resources, please contact Student Affairs Graduate Assistant Zach Tripsas at ztripsas@baystate.edu.