We Proudly Celebrate Transgender Awareness Week!

We want to share this letter that our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) Council shared with May staff this Transgender Awareness Week!

On November 13-19th, we proudly celebrate Transgender Awareness Week! While transgender people are increasingly visible in our society, they still face severe discrimination in employment, housing, health care, education, and legal systems. They also face violence—and, too often, death—as a result of hate crimes. At May Institute, we prioritize the safety, dignity, and respect of our transgender colleagues. Whether you identify as a transgender person or an ally, we invite you to view the videos and resources below.

Videos:
How to come out at work, about anything. https://bit.ly/3Adkzkq
Brief Trans History TED Talk https://bit.ly/2F7L8ep
How to Talk & Listen to Trans People TED Talk https://bit.ly/3Ea3Uzm 

Additional Resources:
The Trevor Project (crisis support) https://bit.ly/3bagq1z
National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) (advocacy) https://bit.ly/3AeLNqP
Gender Spectrum (support for families, trans youth, and educators) https://bit.ly/3Ea3TeM
PFLAG (support, resources, and advocacy for trans people and their families) https://bit.ly/3G9X4g2

Lastly, on November 20th, we honor the memory of the transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of transphobic violence on Transgender Day of Remembrance. Gwendolyn Ann Smith, Transgender Day of Remembrance founder, writes:

"Transgender Day of Remembrance seeks to highlight the losses we face due to anti-transgender bigotry and violence. I am no stranger to the need to fight for our rights, and the right to simply exist is first and foremost. With so many seeking to erase transgender people -- sometimes in the most brutal ways possible --, it is vitally important that those we lose are remembered and that we continue to fight for justice."  

Thank you,
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Council