Honoring Transgender Awareness Week and Transgender Day of Remembrance in the Workplace: Visibility, Resilience, and the Call to Action

Each November, communities around the world come together to observe Transgender Awareness Week, held annually from November 13 - 20. This week leads directly into Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) on November 20, a solemn day honoring the memory of those whose lives have been lost to anti-transgender violence and discrimination.

Together, these observances are a vital opportunity to uplift transgender voices, share their stories, and take action toward a world where every person, regardless of gender identity or expression, can live safely and authentically in the workplace and beyond.

Why November Is Transgender Awareness Month

November’s designation as Transgender Awareness Month grew out of the creation of Transgender Day of Remembrance. TDOR began in 1999, when activist Gwendolyn Ann Smith organized a vigil to honor Rita Hester, a Black transgender woman murdered in 1998 in Massachusetts. The event became an annual commemoration not only of Rita’s life but also of all transgender and gender-diverse individuals lost to violence.

Over time, community organizers, educators, and advocates recognized that remembrance alone wasn’t enough. Visibility, education, and proactive allyship were equally necessary to prevent future violence and discrimination. Thus, the week leading up to TDOR became known as Transgender Awareness Week, and the entire month of November grew to symbolize both reflection and action: remembering the past, recognizing the present, and reshaping the future.

By placing remembrance at the heart of awareness, November invites both mourning and mobilization. It’s a month that calls attention to the systemic inequalities transgender people face, while celebrating their strength, creativity, and leadership across every aspect of society.

The Meaning of Transgender Awareness Week

Transgender Awareness Week is an opportunity for storytelling, education, and solidarity in the workplace. Throughout the week, individuals and organizations can highlight the experiences and achievements of transgender and nonbinary people, share resources with employees for understanding gender diversity, and encourage allies to take tangible steps toward inclusion at work.

At the same time, it’s a celebration of resilience. Transgender people are parents, leaders, healthcare professionals, engineers, artists, athletes, and community organizers. Their contributions enrich every field and culture, even as they navigate systems that often exclude or erase them. Transgender Awareness Week reminds us that representation matters, and that every story shared chips away at stigma and fosters understanding.

Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR): Honoring Lives Lost

On November 20, Transgender Day of Remembrance closes out the week with reflection and reverence. Vigils are held in cities and campuses worldwide with spaces lit by candles, photographs, and the reading of names of those who were killed in acts of anti-trans violence over the past year.

For transgender individuals, visibility can be both empowering and risky. According to The Human Rights Campaign and other global reports, transgender people, particularly transgender women of color, face disproportionate rates of discrimination, unemployment, homelessness, and violence.

Many cases go underreported or misgendered in police or media records, compounding the erasure that TDOR seeks to challenge. These moments of remembrance are powerful acts of resistance and remind us that behind every statistic is a person. Each name read at a vigil is a call to action to end anti-trans violence, which requires addressing broader systems of racism, sexism, poverty, and social exclusion. TDOR is a moment to mourn, but also to mobilize.

Everyday Allyship: Turning Awareness into Action

Supporting the transgender community in the workplace requires more than acknowledgment once a year. Personal and company allyship means consistent learning, listening, and acting in ways that make workplaces, classrooms, and communities safer and more affirming. Here are a few everyday, actionable ways to practice allyship:

1. Educate Yourself and Others

Take the initiative to learn about gender identity and expression. Understand key terms like transgender, nonbinary, cisgender, and gender dysphoria. Reliable sources include organizations like GLAAD, The Trevor Project, National Center for Transgender Equality, and Altogether Agency for expert-led educational workshops.

Share what you learn with other team members, especially if you’re in a position of influence, such as a manager or community leader. Awareness grows when information is shared with empathy and accuracy.

2. Respect Names and Pronouns

Using someone’s chosen name and pronouns is a simple but powerful act of respect. If you’re unsure, listen and ask politely. Mistakes happen; correct yourself, apologize briefly, and move forward without making it about you.

Normalize introducing your pronouns in meetings, email signatures, and social media bios. This small gesture signals inclusion and encourages others to do the same.

3. Challenge Transphobia and Discrimination

Whether it’s in conversation, policy, or culture, speak up against transphobia. Silence allows prejudice to persist. Address harmful jokes, misgendering, or exclusionary practices when you witness them.

Advocate for trans-inclusive policies at your workplace or organization, such as gender-neutral restrooms, inclusive healthcare benefits, and anti-discrimination protections.

4. Support Transgender-Led Organizations and Creators

Amplify transgender voices by supporting trans-led nonprofits, businesses, and artists. Donate, volunteer, or share their work on social media. Representation and financial support directly impact the well-being and visibility of transgender people.

5. Vote and Advocate for Policy Change

Legal protections for transgender individuals vary widely depending on location. Support legislation that safeguards healthcare access, prevents discrimination, and ensures accurate identity documentation. Your vote and advocacy help build systemic change.

A Collective Responsibility

Transgender Awareness Week and the Day of Remembrance remind us that visibility and safety should not be privileges; they are rights. Yet, too many transgender and gender-diverse individuals still face barriers to living full, authentic lives.

As allies and community members, our role is to amplify, not overshadow; to listen, not speak over; and to act, not remain passive. Small, consistent acts of respect and inclusion ripple outward, shaping businesses and community cultures.

When we affirm the humanity of transgender people, we strengthen the fabric of society itself - one woven from empathy, justice, and shared dignity.

Looking Ahead

While November provides a focal point for transgender awareness, advocacy must continue year-round. Every day is an opportunity to affirm someone’s identity, to stand up for equity, and to ensure that the next generation grows up in a world where gender diversity is met not with fear, but with respect and understanding.

Transgender Awareness Week and TDOR call us to honor the past, celebrate the present, and build a safer, more inclusive future. Let us remember the names of those we’ve lost by living in ways that protect those still here. Let us transform awareness into action and remembrance into renewal.

The work of inclusion isn’t seasonal; it’s a lifelong commitment to justice.