Observed annually from Nov. 13- 19, Transgender Awareness Week shines a light on the experiences of the trans community and seeks to foster a greater understanding of the issues they face.
This year, the Oglethorpe community recognized Trans Awareness Week with an opportunity to learn about trans culture, uplift trans peers and honor the memory of transgender people lost to violence and injustice.
As part of the week’s events, the Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies program welcomed Victor Ultra Omni, a PhD candidate at Emory University and the “father” of the Atlanta House of Ultra Omni, for an informative discussion on ballroom culture and the trans icons who have shaped history.
Black trans and queer people created ball culture to provide a space where they could be their most extravagant selves through performances, dancing, and modeling. Drag balls, which are a space for joy and community, were created in direct response to the oppression queer people of color faced.
“Too often, discussions of trans life are restricted to a focus on the real and present dangers that trans people encounter, or on the violence that they too often experience,” says Dr. Anna Ziering, Assistant Professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.
“Our speaker this week, Victor Omni, focused instead on joy and survival. The audience – myself included – found it uplifting and meaningful, especially in a time when our politics and our futures have felt heavy.”
Trans Awareness Week leads into Trans Day of Remembrance (TDOR) on Nov. 20, a day dedicated to honoring transgender lives lost to violence. To commemorate TDOR, OU students were invited to write uplifting and affirming messages to the trans community in the Intercultural Center.
LGBTQ+ students and allies looking to support the trans community can find resources through the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’s website. Additionally, LGBTQ students may be eligible for financial assistance through the Ruth Winecker ’87 and John Winecker ’85 Annual Scholarship by contacting Financial Aid at [email protected].
