Transgender Day of Remembrance

Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is marked annually on 20 November in memory of those who have been killed as a result of transphobia.

Gender reassignment is one of nine protected characteristics covered under the Equality Act – the University ensures that all Trans* staff and students are treated equally and does not tolerate any form of transphobia.

We have celebrated this important day in the calendar every year since 2012, and 2017 was no different with a number of different activities: displaying the Trans* flag on campus; publishing updated Guidance for Supporting Trans* staff and students; relaunching our Gender Neutral toilet campus map; and inviting people to become a Trans Ally.

A special event at St Peter’s Chaplaincy ‘An Evening with Rachel Mann’ also took place. Rachel is an Anglican priest and writer based in south Manchester. Her memoir of growing up transgender Dazzling Darkness was a bestseller. She out the relationships between gender, sexuality and faith. She discussed her work and experience of being transgender before a special act of remembrance took place. 325 candles were lit – each representing one of the reported murders of trans people in 2017. A special prayer was also said for these lost lives.

World AIDS Day

Members of three different network groups will be organising bake sales in different buildings to raise funds for HIV and AIDS on Friday 1 December (World AIDS Day). Along with red ribbon boxes available on campus we’re hoping to exceed our £1,800 raised in 2016.

HIV and AIDS impacts on millions of people around the world and has a devastating effect on different communities. Whilst there are drugs available to give people a full life expectancy, these are not readily available and there is still no cure for HIV/AIDS. We hope that by raising awareness through our activities, we can contribute to further research and help those already impacted by the disease.

*Trans is an umbrella term encompassing all those who do not identify with the sex they were assigned at birth, including but not limited to those who are transgender, genderqueer, agender and non-binary.