LGBTQ* Resource Center Celebrates Trans Week of Awareness
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 25, 2019) — The University of Kentucky’s Office of LGBTQ* Resources, in honor of national Transgender Week of Awareness, is hosting its own Trans Week of Awareness (TWOA) Nov. 18 through Nov. 22.
The goal of the event is to help raise the visibility of transgender and gender non-conforming people and address issues the community faces.
Events are open to the campus community. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to get involved during awareness week to bring attention to the community, educate the public and advance advocacy around the issues of prejudice, discrimination and violence that affect the transgender community.
“Transgender Week of Awareness is not just for transgender, non-binary or gender non-conforming individuals. It’s for everybody,” said Rayne Parker, assistant director in the UK Office of LGBTQ* Resources
Organizers hope that following TWOA, people continue to seek information, build community and advocate for themselves and others.
UK’s TWOA schedule of events includes:
Trans* Today: Conversations about Identities and Experiences
7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18 | Martin Luther King Center
A faculty-facilitated conversation with Dr. Ellen Riggle about positive aspects and unique struggles for transgender individuals in the U.S. hosted in collaboration with the MLK Center and the Center for Graduate and Professional Diversity Initiatives.
Say Their Name: Trans People of Color Panel
6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19 | Dinkle-Mas Suite
Hosted in collaboration with Kentucky Black Pride.
Trans Day of Remembrance Vigil
6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20 | Gatton Student Center Courtyard
An annual reflection on the impact of violence against transgender individuals and a time of recommitment to interrupting systems of violence that disproportionately harm transgender individuals.
Friendsgiving
6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21 | Multipurpose Room of the William T Young Library
A free meal focused on inclusive community building and learning about how hunger and homelessness affects us all, accepting donations of non-perishable foods at this event for the Big Blue Pantry Thanksgiving Basket Drive. Hosted in collaboration with Wildcats for HOMES.
Trans Week of Awareness Celebration
noon Friday, Nov. 22 | VIP Center
A capstone event to celebrate transgender individuals and highlight resources available for supporting transgender communities.
In addition to these largest events above, TWOA will also include other smaller events that will be posted to the LGBTQ* Resources' events page at www.uky.edu/lgbtq/calendar-events.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.