Transgender Awareness Week (November 13 – 19) is a time to promote education and visibility of transgender communities, as well as celebrate transgender lives and their ongoing contributions.
Following this week is Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), which was first observed in 1999 by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith, who held a vigil for Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed the year before. Since then, TDOR continues to be commemorated annually on November 20 for all transgender lives lost due to violence.
Seneca Polytechnic is committed to challenging the marginalization and violence transgender, non-binary, Two-Spirit and gender diverse communities face. Education and visibility are important tools to challenge harmful rhetoric and support transgender people who face discrimination and harassment due to their gender identity and gender expression.
For Transgender Awareness Week and TDOR, you are invited to attend the events below and have dialogue with your community on transgender futures and belonging.
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 13
Time: 11 a.m. to noon
Location: The Meeting Place, Level 3, CITE (Building K), Newnham Campus
Join us this Transgender Awareness Week to embody transgender community and joy with The Epic Choir, Toronto’s first collective for trans, non-binary, Two-Spirit and genderqueer singers. Learn about the history of The Epic Choir from multidisciplinary artist, Tristan R. Whiston (he/him), and how The Epic Choir has responded over the years to strengthen belonging. Hear a special performance from the live choir and connect with the somatic experience of singing.
All are welcome to attend, and light refreshments will be served. Email the Office for Reconciliation and Inclusion for accessibility needs.
About Tristan R. Whiston
Tristan R. Whiston (he/him) is a multidisciplinary artist who has worked in Toronto’s arts community for more than 30 years as a director, dramaturge, writer, performer, choral director and community artist. He wrote and directed five audio documentaries for CBC, and his work, Middle C, won the 2007 Premios Ondas Award for International Radio. Tristan was the artist in residence at Central Toronto Youth Services, directing Gender Play, a theatre project working with LGBTQ youth to explore issues and experiences of gender. With ReDefine Arts, Tristan co-led at least 35 community-engaged arts projects including Drift Seeds, a site-specific performance with a cast of more than 150 people.
About The Epic Choir
The Epic Choir, produced by ReDefine Arts, is a community choir proudly composed of trans, non-binary, Two-Spirit and gender-queer singers. The Epic Choir was formed as part of the 2023 iteration of two-time Dora Award-nominated Trace, co-created by Tristan R. Whiston and Moynan King. ReDefine Arts, established in 2005 as Red Dress Productions, creates and presents interdisciplinary and community-grounded performance, installations and public artworks that advance disability justice, collaborative processes and artistic innovation.
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 20
Commemorate Transgender Day of Remembrance with a discussion featuring Seneca Polytechnic graduate, Bernado Morais (he/him), on his transition journey. Learn from Morais' lived experience and acquire a richer understanding of the challenges faced by transgender people. A moment of silence will be observed to honour and celebrate transgender life, while recognizing the names of reported transgender lives lost in the past year.
About Bernardo Morais (he/him)
Bernardo Morais is a dedicated transgender rights advocate who is passionate about supporting transgender youth in their journey to self-discovery and empowerment. Originally from Brazil, Bernardo has a degree in social sciences and is a graduate of Seneca's Social Service Work Diploma. Bernardo coordinates the Trans Youth Mentorship Program at The 519, where he supports transgender, non-binary and Two-Spirit participants ages 16 to 29 to reach their goals in employment, education and transitioning. Morais sees community building and solidarity as essential and life-affirming to transgender and gender diverse folks. Morais is on a mission to create spaces for transgender people to be their authentic selves and connect with each other.
Date: Thursday, Nov. 21
Time: 4 to 6 p.m.
Location: K2001, Level 2, CITE (Building K), Newnham Campus
Spend the afternoon crafting to co-create three vision boards focused on community building, allyship and transgender liberation. Facilitated by Seneca Pride and Bernardo Morais, a Seneca Polytechnic graduate and program coordinator at the 519, students will use magazines, images and other art supplies to visually express their lived experiences and desires for transgender futures.
2SLGBTQ+ students from all campuses are welcome at this event. Allies are encouraged to participate and are asked to bring empathy, respect and open-mindedness to the space.
Connect with Seneca Pride, the 2SLGBTQ+ student support group
Learn more about the 2SLGBTQ+ community with resources from Seneca Libraries
Support Seneca’s ProudER Bursary for 2SLGBTQ+ students
ProudER is a resource group for employees who identify as members of the 2SLGBTQQIANB+ communities at Seneca. The group provides an opportunity to connect, engage and champion the voices of employees, by galvanizing opportunities and navigating challenges. ProudER aspires to carve out both tangible and digital spaces for the community, through transformative curricula, proactive programs, and robust community outreach. Contact ProudER to join (for employees only).
Guide to Being an Ally to Transgender and Nonbinary Young People by The Trevor Project (webpage)
Alok Vaid-Menon Finds Freedom In Body Hair, Mini Skirts & Dressing for Pure Joy by StyleLikeU (video)
What Does "Two-Spirit" Mean? by them (video)
Pride Flags Resource by University of British Columbia (webpage)
Trans Pulse Canada (webpage with community-based research on health and well-being)
Rainbow Health Ontario
Friends of Ruby
The 519
Native Youth Sexual Health Network
LBGT YouthLine
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