Each year from November 13 to 19, Transgender Awareness Week takes place in order to educate the public and to celebrate the transgender community in the days leading up to Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR). This day was founded by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith, in honor of Rita Hester, a transgender woman of color who was murdered in 1998. A vigil was held to honor all of the transgender people who lost their lives due to violence against the community.
Many transgender people use this week as an opportunity to share experiences, advocate for the issues around discrimination and violence against the transgender community, and educate people on the hardships that transgender people face, according to glaad.org. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is holding an online vigil on twitter to observe TDoR. In addition to online vigils, across the United States, typically in bigger cities such as Boston and New York, communities gather together to remember the transgender people who were murdered.
Forbes magazine releases an annual report to recognize Transgender Awareness Week. The report states that as of 2019, 331 transgender people have been killed. Transgender Awareness Week is meant to bring attention to these facts and help people understand why it is important to be an ally not only during this week, but all of the time.
CNN states that there are many things you can do to become a supportive ally, some as simple as learning the correct terminology when referring to transgender individuals, or familiarizing yourself with the problems they face in daily life. Making it known that you are an ally is an effective way of making the transgender people in your community feel safer and more accepted.