Trans Awareness Month Events

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NEW! Teens & Tweens Group Starts This Month

Our new Teens & Tweens group is starting this month. The first session is on Thursday, November 11th from 6:30 to 8:30pm.

Teens & Tweens is a group for youth — ages 10-14 — who want to get to know peers, have a safe space to be themselves, and have fun playing games and doing activities.

Teens & Tweens will be hosted on Zoom twice monthly:

the second Thursday of the month from 6:30pm to 8:30pm
and the last Sunday of the month from 11:00am to 1:00pm

To register, please contact inquiries@pflagdurhamregion.com to get the Zoom passcode and link.

Transgender Awareness Week & Trans Day of Remembrance (TDOR) Events

November 14-20 is Transgender Awareness Week, and Trans Day of Remembrance is on November 20.

PFLAG Durham Region and our community partners have organized several events for this week. Check out the schedule below, then read on for more details about each event.

Trans Pride Flag Raising — November 15 and 16

On Monday, November 15, you can attend a transgender pride flag raising event. Here’s when and where they are happening throughout Durham Region:

9:00am — Oshawa City Hall
10:00am — Durham Regional Headquarters
11:00am — Ajax Town Hall
12:00pm — Pickering Town Hall
1:30pm — Bowmanville Town Hall
2:00pm — Uxbridge Town Hall

If you’re in Whitby on Tuesday, November 16th, check out the trans pride flag raising event at Whitby City Hall at 2:00pm.

#SharpieActivism — November 15

Join our local libraries from 4:30pm to 5:30pm on Facebook Live to help us make a popular children’s book more inclusive!

What is #SharpieActivism?

Award-winning author, Alex Gino, feels their book “George” was misnamed. George is the main character’s birth name, but it is a name she doesn’t like for herself. Melissa is the character’s chosen name.

Alex has renamed their book “Melissa’s Story” to show respect for the main character and for all gender-diverse people. They are encouraging everyone, including public libraries, to modify the covers of their copies of the book to reflect the new title.

You can learn more about Alex’s #SharpieActivism on their website.

How can you participate in #SharpieActivism?

Libraries across the Durham Region and PFLAG have partnered to present a virtual #SharpieActivism event you can attend on Facebook Live on Monday, November 15, from 4:30pm to 5:30pm.

We will permanently modify the book covers with black sharpies to reflect the new correct title.

Use this link to join the #SharpieActivism event on Facebook Live.

Trans Day of Remembrance Panel — November 17

Join us from 6:30pm to 8:00pm on Wednesday, November 17 to honor and remember the lives of transgender people whose lives were lost to anti-transgender violence.

Our panel of speakers will share stories and answer your questions. You can learn more about the event on the Ajax Public Library’s Facebook page.

This program is presented in partnership with Durham Region Libraries and PFLAG Durham Region. It is intended for adults, and advanced registration is required.

Click here to register for this free event hosted on Zoom.

Virtual Film Screenings — November 14, 16, 18, & 19

PFLAG Durham Region is pleased to be hosting four free, virtual film screenings during Trans Awareness Week. We hope you will join us!

Sunday, November 14 at 7:00pm — Disclosure

In this documentary, leading trans creatives and thinkers share heartfelt perspectives and analysis about Hollywood's impact on the trans community.

Tuesday, November 16 at 7:00pm — Transhood

Filmed over five years in Kansas City, this documentary follows four kids — beginning at ages 4, 9, 12, and 15 — as they redefine "coming of age." These kids and their families reveal intimate realities of how gender is reshaping the family next door in a never-before-told chronicling of growing up transgender in the heartland.

Thursday, November 18 at 7:00pm — Red Without Blue

A groundbreaking artistic portrayal of gender, identity, and the unswerving bond of twinship despite transformation, Red Without Blue captures and reveals a pair of identical twins as one transitions from male to female.

Friday, November 19 at 7:00pm — The Death and Life of Martha P. Johnson

As she fights the tide of violence against trans women, activist Victoria Cruz probes the suspicious 1992 death of Martha P. Johnson.

Links to each film screening will be posted online closer to the screening date.

Please watch our Facebook page for links to join us online to view these films.

Trans Day of Remembrance — November 20

Please join us on November 20 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm for our Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) event as we remember and honour those who have lost their lives to anti-trans violence.

Use this link to join this event hosted on Zoom.

Support

If you’re looking for a way to connect, join us for one of our peer-facilitated sharing nights via Zoom.

Please email inquiries@pflagdurhamregion.com to request the meeting ID and password for any of our meetings.

NEW! Teens & Tweens

Teens & Tweens is a group for youth — ages 10-14 — who want to get to know peers, have a safe space to be themselves, and have fun playing games and doing activities. It runs on the second Thursday and the last Sunday of each month.

The first session is planned for Thursday, November 11 at 6:30pm. The second session will run on Sunday, November 28 at 11:00am.

Sharing Night — North Durham

If you live in North Durham, join us on the third Thursday of every month to connect with the North Durham Sharing Night group.

Next meeting: Thursday, November 18 at 7:00pm

Sharing Night — Central

2SLGBTQI community, parents, caregivers, youth, allies — everyone is welcome! Join the conversation and connect with others on the last Thursday of every month.

Next meeting: Thursday, November 25 at 7:00pm

Parent’s Sharing Night

Our sharing group for parents, guardians, and caregivers of trans and non-binary youth and adult children runs on the first Wednesday of each month.

Next meeting: Wednesday, December 1 at 7:00pm

Transitions

The transitions group offers a social space for trans & questioning folks aged 16 and older.

Next meeting: Thursday, December 2 at 7:00pm

Parent’s Group on Facebook

Our Family TRANSformations Facebook group offers a supportive space for parents and caregivers who are supporting a person who identifies as transgender to share support and resources. You can request an invitation to join this private Facebook group here.

Community Programs & Resources

Gender Journeys at Carea

A group for ages 14+ that allows for participants to explore their gender and sexual identities in a safe, affirming environment. Please email inquiries@pflagdurhamregion.com for more information.

Family TRANSformations at Carea

A group providing support, information, and affirming positive interactions for parents, guardians, and caregivers of youth or adult children who have a trans identity. Please email inquiries@pflagdurhamregion.com for more information.

Important Dates in November

Trans Awareness Month

The month of November is a time for transgender and non-binary people and their allies to celebrate, educate the public about issues the community faces, and remember and honour those we have lost to anti-trans violence.

November 7 — TransParent Day

On the first Sunday in November, we celebrate affirming families and the love between transgender parents and their children and transgender children and their parents. Happy TransParent Day to all families who embrace a parent or a child who is trans!

November 8 — Intersex Solidarity Day / Intersex Day of Remembrance

Intersex Day of Remembrance is observed primarily in Europe. (In North America, Intersex Awareness Day is observed on October 26.)

Intersex Day of Remembrance falls on the birthday of French intersex person, Herculine Barbin, and is dedicated to highlighting issues faced by intersex people.

November 14-20 — Transgender Awareness Week

This week is dedicated to advocating for and raising visibility of the trans and non-binary community.

There are plenty of events you can participate in for Trans Awareness Week In Durham Region including: transgender pride flag raising ceremonies, virtual film screenings, a #SharpieActivism event, and a panel discussion hosted in partnership with local libraries.

In case you missed it, all event details are described above in this newsletter.

November 20 — Transgender Day of Remembrance

On Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), we remember and honour those who have lost their lives to anti-trans violence. It is a day to raise awareness of the prejudice trans people often face and commit to dismantling a culture of anti-trans violence.

PFLAG Durham Region will be hosting a vigil via Zoom for TDOR from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. Use this link to join the event via Zoom.

November 25-December 16 — 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an international campaign designed to educate and build commitments to ending violence against women, girls, and transgender & gender-diverse individuals.

Within those 16 days, on December 6, we also commemorate the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

You can learn how to get involved in the 16 Days campaign here.

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