Transgender Awareness Week is a week-long celebration dedicated to raising the visibility of transgender people and awareness of the issues the community faces. It leads up to Transgender Day of Remembrance on Sunday 20 November, a day to remember those that have lost their lives to transphobic violence.

Transgender Awareness Week is an opportunity to show support for transgender people, encourage openness in the university community, and inspire honest conversations about the challenges that transgender people face.  

For trans students and staff at the University, it is a chance to feel recognised by their place of work or education and to meet others undergoing similar experiences. For trans allies, it is a chance to further educate themselves on the trans experience and learn how to better support their trans friends, classmates and colleagues. 

How to be an ally to the LGBT+ community

The University should be a place where colleagues and students can be themselves and be treated with dignity, respect, and kindness. One of the ways that everyone can help to achieve that is to be proactive in their use of pronouns. Pronouns are how people refer to themselves, such as he/she. Using someone’s preferred pronouns shows your respect for how they would like to be addressed and that you see them as a person. 

Transgender Day of Remembrance

Transgender Day of Remembrance takes place on Sunday 20 November. It is a chance to remember and honour all the transgender lives that have been lost to transphobic hate. 

To mark Transgender Day of Remembrance, the Library have created a reading list to memorialise the victims of transgender violence.

Support and resources

There are a number of sources of support, advice and information for students and staff of the University that identify as LGBT+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and other sexual orientations and gender identities).

The University will support you if you are transitioning or have questions about your gender identity. Students can request their preferred name be used throughout their time at university and are not required to provide any legal documentation to do this. For more information and advice, contact [email protected].

The Students’ Union’s LGBT+ society provide a social and support network for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities at the University.

If you are experiencing any circumstances that are impacting your wellbeing, the University’s Wellbeing Service offer a range of practical support in a confidential, professional setting.

Further support

• Support for Trans students: Student Minds
• Find a transgender support group in your area: Trans Unite
  
• Support for transgender people in Wales: Wales Trans Resources