Tuesday, November 20 was the Transgender Day of Remembrance — a day recognized annually around the world to honour those who lost their lives due to anti-transgender hatred or discrimination.
"Today, we reaffirm our love and respect to all transgender people and reflect on all those affected by the physical and emotional trauma of transphobia and gender-based violence," said Provost Teri Balser in an email to faculty, staff and students.
Dalhousie flew the Transgender Pride Flag on the Studley Quad on Tuesday to mark the occasion.
The Transgender Day of Remembrance helps raise awareness of hate crimes against transgender people and honours the lives of all Trans people who may otherwise be forgotten. The day was founded in 1999 to memorialize the murder of Rita Hester, a transgender woman in Allston, Massachusetts.
In her email to the Dal community, Dr. Balser shared the university's new Gender Affirmation Policy, recently approved by the president. The policy, she wrote, "will help provide support to Dalhousie faculty, staff and students in expressing and affirming their gender identity."