I'm sure most of us here know that November is designated "Transgender Awareness Month," and more specifically, Nov. 13-19, 2024, is "Transgender Awareness Week." It all culminates with the "Transgender Day of Remembrance" on Nov. 20th.

The day was chosen as a way of memorializing two Massachusetts trans women who had been murdered separately in that month in the 1990s. The day eventually led to the wider observance throughout the preceding week and month.

I hoped to provide a list of events in Michigan occurring in November, related to "Transgender Awareness Month," or at the least, the "Day of Remembrance."

And I found virtually nothing.

I was shocked. There were quite a few links to previous observances, but as of now--less than two months before November, I only found this page on the University of Michigan's Spectrum Center:

https://spectrumcenter.umich.edu/transgender-awareness-month

As you can see, this is more a listing of UM campus events for the LGBTQ community as a whole. Nothing specifically aimed at trans students, and nothing at all for the local, off-campus trans community in general.

I have to ask: Is the transgender community in Michigan that disengaged, that lacking in collective spirit, to even organize a few events memorializing those who have died due to transphobic violence?

So, I'm putting this out to our sub's membership: Is there anything WE can do to show solidarity and collegiality, and observe this month, week and/or day in some way?

I will gladly offer this sub up as a forum for discussion about any event planning. If you have an idea, or would like to organize an event, or can provide a space for such an event, please don't hesitate to use our sub for those purposes.

We are all prone to complaining about the biases, prejudice and injustices we face. We bemoan the anti-trans legislation being passed. Being a marginalized minority, we don't often get the attention we desire. The month of November is one of the few times we have the spotlight. Let's find a way to use it.

As the old saying goes: "It is it far better to light the candle than to curse the darkness."

--- Anni