Hi John,

Yesterday marked the beginning of Trans Awareness Week—a time to support the trans community through education, storytelling, and advocacy. Trans and non-binary young people are facing over 500 anti-queer and anti-trans bills introduced this year, and they’re standing strong, organizing, and demanding change. Now more than ever, we have an opportunity to show solidarity and take meaningful action to protect and uplift trans youth.

Here’s how you can join in:

1. Download and share our Trans Awareness Week Toolkit – Packed with information, resources, and action steps to help you raise awareness and advocate effectively.
2. Advocate for trans rights – Sign the Defend Trans Freedom Petition and join the ACLU and people across the country in solidarity with trans youth and their families to aid in the fight for gender affirming care nationwide.
3. Support ‘Let’s Stop HIV Together’ – Like, share, and repost images from this digital campaign promoting messages to stop HIV stigma and increase access to resources for LGBTQ+ youth.
4. Attend Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20 – Join a vigil honoring lives lost to anti-trans violence this year. Vigils are often hosted by local advocates at community centers, parks, and other public spaces, with a reading of names of those we’ve lost. Check out this list of resources by GLADD.
5. Take action to protect trans youth – Educate yourself and others, counter harmful rhetoric, and help create safe spaces where trans youth can thrive.

Check out Jae’s video kicking off our Trans Awareness Week! Hear directly from one of our youth activists about the importance of this week and how we can all get involved.

By standing with trans youth, we’re helping build a more inclusive, compassionate world for everyone.

Louis Ortiz-Fonseca (he/they)
Director, LGBTQ Health and Rights
Advocates for Youth