Trans Awareness Week celebrates diversity, inclusion

Trans Awareness Week runs through Nov. 20 and provides an opportunity to celebrate the trans community at Arizona State University and promote awareness of transgender and gender non-binary identities and experiences.

“Through increased visibility and educational programs, the week helps all Sun Devils better understand the diverse identities of the trans community and how to support the inclusion of all those identities on campus and beyond,” said Kellyn Johnson, coordinator for ASU Student and Cultural Engagement.

Events are scheduled at all four ASU campuses and include discussions, movie screenings, a trivia night, a drag show and more. A Trans Day of Remembrance Vigil and Friendsgiving Dinner will also be held Nov. 20 on the Downtown Phoenix campus.

Another element of Trans Awareness Week is the Gender Positivity Campaign, in which students write notes of affirmation and place them in restrooms across all campuses. The activity is meant to validate all gender identities and promote self-love and respect.

Trans Awareness Week is an entirely student-planned initiative. According to Johnson, representatives from the Rainbow Coalition and student organizations including Confetti, Spectrum, Gamma Rho Lambda, BL+C, Prism and QMunity collaborated to develop this year’s lineup of programs and initiatives.

Along with events like Trans Awareness Week, the LGBTQIA+Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Queer, Intersex and Asexual and other communities Sun Devil community can also find campus and community resources through Out@ASU. The website features information on student organizations, inclusive houses of worship, scholarships, health services, gender neutral restrooms, housing, local LGBTQIA+ organizations and more.

“The site helps students connect with their community and locate resources to aid in their academic and personal success,” Johnson said.

The Out@ASU site was also recently updated to include Ally and Trans Resources pages.

“The Ally page provides the names, departments and contact information for SafeZone trained allies and will, in future, host resources and guides for allies and advocates,” Johnson said.

The Trans Resources page offers information specific to the trans student experience including sample emails for contact faculty/staff regarding asserted names and pronouns, expanded information on health services and national and locally based trans organizations. 

A Faculty Guide for Trans Inclusion in the Classroom was also recently developed by a group of trans and allied students and will go live during Trans Awareness Week.

Find a complete listing of programing for all four campuses on the Trans Awareness Week website.