While most of the discussion of trans folks online can often be centered on negativity, Trans Awareness Week gives us the opportunity to uplift positive stories of trans people across the country.

From barriers in receiving medical treatment to discriminatory housing and employment practices to a lack of adequate and appropriate representation of trans folks, our community is facing many confounding challenges.

To learn more about our trans community and to find ways you can support us, check out some of the resources below!

Trans Awareness Week is a time to honor those trans people we have lost and to advocate for a world in which trans people are no longer targets for hate. Trans Awareness Week leads into Trans Day of Remembrance which was initially founded by Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to honor Rita Hester, a trans woman that was murdered in 1998.

5 Things You Can Do To Support Trans and Non-Binary Folks During and Beyond Transgender Awareness Week

November 13 marks Transgender Awareness Week, a week-long celebration raising awareness about the transgender community and the challenges our community faces. In support of transgender and non-binary people, particularly our youth, here are five things you can do to support trans folks during and beyond.

1. Educate yourself on what transgender and being non-binary means!

As with anything in life, a good starting point to better and thoroughly understand the matter at hand is to educate yourself. Do you actually know what being transgender and non-binary means? It’s okay to not clearly know what defines being transgender and non-binary, but it’s never okay to assume or, even worse, make false claims. Check out this helpful resource!

2. Understand the challenges that trans and non-binary people face!

We estimate that more than 2 million people in the U.S. identify as trans or non-binary. Trans people are your family, friends, neighbors and coworkers. Trans people face unique challenges. From lack of legal protections to discrimination at the workplace, to truly support trans people, we all need to understand the scope of issues that trans people encounter in their day-to-day lives. Learn more here.

3. Speak up against discrimination, bullying and hate!

It’s important to always address discrimination, bullying and hate in any situation. Learn to identify instances of discrimination, bullying and hate in the workplace and know how or when you should intervene. If you are a teacher, check out these lessons to help you lead your students in real conversations about the kinds of bullying they really see and hear at school, learning how they can be upstanders to help prevent bullying.

4. Ask questions. Get the right answers!

It’s perfectly okay to be an ally for trans and non-binary people and not have all the answers. You may ask yourself “what’s the difference between sex and gender?” or “is gender non-conforming the same thing as being trans?”

Get the answers to your questions! You can find some of them here.

5. Join the fight!

One of the best ways to support trans and non-binary people is by joining a movement or an organization already doing the work to fight against LGBTQ+ discrimination and inequality. Organizations like ours have many resources that can help you fight against hate and discrimination, especially on a legislative level.