Each year in November, we observe Transgender Awareness Month — a dedicated time to celebrate transgender, non-binary, Two-Spirit, and gender-diverse people, bring education and awareness to the challenges they face in their daily lives, and work toward eliminating barriers for the trans community.
Many significant observances for the trans community occur during the month of November.
Transgender Parent Day (November 2):
Transgender Parent Day is celebrated each year on the first Sunday of November to honour and recognize transgender parents and parents of transgender children. In 2025, Transgender Parent Day will be observed on Sunday, November 2.
First established in 2009, Transgender Parent Day serves as an opportunity to celebrate transgender parents who may feel excluded from traditional parent celebrations such as Mother’s and Father’s Days. Transgender Parent Day brings awareness to the experiences of transgender parents, as well as their courage and resilience.
Transgender Parent Day also highlights the importance of advocacy and inclusion. Transgender parents often face unique challenges, including discrimination within the healthcare system, and a lack of tailored support systems. Recognising these realities reminds us that inclusive practices—in healthcare and beyond—can help to ensure that all parents feel seen, supported, and respected.
To learn more about Transgender Parent Day, please go to: https://yvc-asiapacific.org/transgender-parent-day/
Intersex Day of Remembrance (November 8):
Intersex Day of Remembrance (also known as Intersex Solidarity Day) is observed annually on November 8th, in honour of the birthday of Herculine Barbin (1838–1868), a French intersex memoirist whose life story illustrates the profound harms of medical, legal, and social erasure that intersex people face.
Intersex Day of Remembrance calls upon us to honour the lives of intersex people that have been lost, and is also an opportunity to recognize the resilience of intersex people, reflect on the harms they continue to face, and reaffirm our commitment to providing compassionate, equitable care.
What is intersex?
Intersex is a term use to describe individuals whose sex is not easily characterized as male or female based on their genitals, reproductive structures, chromosomes, and hormones. There are more than 40 known intersex variations, and it is estimated that approximately 1.7% of people are intersex. Some intersex features may be present at birth, while others may not be apparent until other life stages occur, such as puberty and family planning.
It is important to recognize that being intersex is not a health issue in and of itself—intersex variations are normal, biological variations. Unfortunately, intersex people face discrimination within the healthcare system, where they continue to be subject to medical and surgical interventions which are often carried out in childhood, before they are able to provide informed consent. These interventions contribute to lifelong physical and emotional impacts for many intersex people.
Intersex Day of Remembrance encourages us to acknowledge and challenge the stigma and discrimination that underpin the mistreatment of intersex people, and to stand in solidarity with intersex people. By listening, learning, and advocating for affirming care, we help create a healthcare environment where every person is treated with dignity, respect, and understanding.
To learn more about intersex people and how to be an ally, please go to: https://interaction.org.au/resource/allies/
Transgender Day of Remembrance (November 20)
Each year on November 20, Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) invites communities to honour transgender, nonbinary, Two-Spirit, and gender-diverse people whose lives have been lost to anti-trans violence. Originating in 1999 as a vigil to remember Rita Hester, a Black transgender woman who was murdered, TDOR has grown into an international day of reflection, mourning, and commitment to change.
Across Canada and globally, trans communities continue to face disproportionate levels of discrimination, stigma, and violence, with even higher levels reported among racialized trans and gender-diverse people (Trans PULSE Canada Team, 2019). This highlights the need to take immediate action to support trans and gender-diverse people, and to dismantle systems of oppression that perpetuate anti-trans violence.
To learn more about Transgender Day of Remembrance, please go to: https://equity.mcmaster.ca/2024-transgender-day-of-remembrance-tdor/
You can read about the Trans Pulse Project here: https://transpulsecanada.ca/results/report-health-and-well-being-among-racialized-trans-and-non-binary-people-in-canada/
At TBRHSC, we are committed to fostering an environment where all patients, their families, staff, professional staff, volunteers, and learners are treated with dignity and respect, feel affirmed in their identity, and receive safe, equitable care. Tune into the Daily Informed Newsletter throughout the month of November to learn about ways to engage in allyship with the trans community.
To learn more about Transgender Awareness Month/Week, please go to TransCare BC:
https://www.transcarebc.ca/about/news-events/transgender-awareness-week
