It's Transgender Awareness Week, an annual observance leading up to Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR) on November 20, a day that sprung from the brutal murder of Rita Hester in the late 1990s and honors the memory of all whose lives have been lost in acts of transphobic violence. Read on below for details on virtual vigils, free COVID tests for queer and trans community members, and other ways to honor and celebrate trans folks in Seattle and Portland. 

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Jump to: Seattle | Portland | National

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Events are online unless otherwise noted.

SEATTLE

Bellevue Transgender Day of Remembrance Past Event Like List
The Bellevue Methodist Church invites you to light a candle in your home and join an online vigil in memory of those lost to transphobic violence.  
(Fri Nov 20)

Gender Alliance of the South Sound TDOR Past Event Like List
The Gender Alliance of the South Sound is teaming up with Seattle Central College for a Transgender Day of Remembrance event featuring guest speakers Julia D'Poon and Nicole Perry. 
(Friday, November 20)

Gender Justice Award Nominations Past Event Like List
Submit your nominations for the Gender Justice League's Gender Justice Awards, which recognize trans and gender non-conforming community leaders who fight for gender equality in Seattle and beyond, online.
(Through November 21)

Identities and Expressions: A Virtual Trans & Non-Binary Performing Arts Festival Past Event Like List
Non-binary femme beacons Mx. Pucks A'Plenty and Irish Lashes present an online festival dedicated to trans and non-binary performers like Canada's Mother Girth and Washington's Saira Barbaric.
(November 20-21)

Legendary Children Past Event Like List
Presented in partnership with Seattle Public Library, SAM’s Legendary Children is one of Seattle's best cultural events, centered around house and ballroom culture and featuring a fantastic cast of QTBIPOC performers and authors.
(Saturday, November 21)

Second Annual Generations Celebration Past Event Like List
This second annual event presented by the University of Washington's AgePride HealthyGen Center and the National LGBTQ+ Health and Longevity Center, hosted by Aleksa Manila, "will help to solidify our common ground in the context of a global pandemic, celebrate advances in health and longevity, honor those we have lost, and illuminate the steadfast work needed to advance racial equity and intersectional justice." Entertainment will be provided by Aleksa Manila, Lady A, Arnaldo!, and Grethe Cammermeyer, and presentations will cover topics like "BIPOC: Addressing Access and Service Disparities" and "Bias and Resistance in the Lives of Trans People." 
(Wednesday, November 18)

Seattle Queer Film Festival Encore Series Past Event Like List
If you missed this year's Seattle Queer Film Festival, have no fear: Three Dollar Bill Cinema is rescreening award winners, audience favorites, popular films, and bonus shorts online for three days, including the Ferzan Özpetek's Goddess of Fortune and Gossamer Folds, starring trans actress Alexandra Grey.
(November 20-22)

Trans Awareness Week & Trans Day of Remembrance at Gay City Past Event Like List
Gay City invites trans community members to send in artwork (or tag them in photos of their artwork on social media) relating to various issues facing trans people. "Artwork can be made specifically for the occasion, or you may use this as an opportunity to share existing work, so long as it relates to TDOR or trans visibility and awareness," write the organizers. In addition, they'll have online panel discussions on gender-affirming healthcare (Tues Nov 17) and intergenerational trans voices (Thurs Nov 19). 
(Through November 20)

TDOR with U.T.O.P.I.A Past Event Like List
QTPI-led nonprofit U.T.O.P.I.A. Seattle's annual Transgender Day of Remembrance service promises words and talent from community members. 
(Friday, November 20)

Whatcom PFLAG Transgender Day of Remembrance Past Event Like List
The Whatcom chapter of PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) will gather online for a celebration of trans resilience. They'll call out 40 names of trans people who have died from gender-based violence. 
(Friday, November 20)

PORTLAND

BI2S Virtual Exhibition Past Event Like List
In honor of Trans Day of Remembrance and Native American Heritage Month, the Q Center will show work by visual and performance artists a.c. ramírez de arellaño, Geeta Lewis, Busch, Brian Rainforth, and Asa Wright on YouTube. 
(Through December 9)

Queer & Trans Day of COVID Testing Past Event Like List
Need a COVID test? For Trans Day of Remembrance, all trans and non-binary Portlanders can drive or walk up to this free testing site, no symptoms or ID needed. They'll also have free food boxes for those in need.
Quest Center for Integrative Health, Southeast (Sunday, November 22)

Multicultural Faith Virtual TDOR Past Event Like List
Tune in to the UTOPIA PDX Facebook page for an online ceremony that welcomes people of all faiths to honor trans lives across cultures and identities. 
(Friday, November 20)

Science Cafe: Transgender Experience Past Event Like List
Learn about the science of gender diversity, as well as fertility and surgical options for gender-diverse people, at this talk hosted by Oregon Health & Science University’s Oregon National Primate Research Center.
(Thursday, November 19)

TDOR Memorial Past Event Like List
Honor the lives of trans and gender-queer people who have been murdered in the U.S. throughout history and hear from local trans and queer community members at this exhibition, viewable from outside. 
Q Center, North Portland (through December 8)

Transgender Day of Remembrance Interfaith Vigil Past Event Like List
Join Transpositive PDX on KBOO Community Radio 90.7 FM for an interfaith vigil honoring trans lives with Rabbi Ariel Stone, Reverend Bill Sinkford, Ellen Simmons, Steve Cromer, and others. 
(Tuesday, November 17)

Trans Diaspora of Resilience Past Event Like List
Join the Black & Beyond the Binary Collective, Ori Gallery, and Forward Together for a night celebrating trans ancestors and community members. 
(Friday, November 20)

NATIONAL

Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen Remind Like List
In her new Netflix documentary, trans actress and activist Laverne Cox (Orange Is the New Black, Transparent) challenges the representation of trans lives in mainstream media, giving a platform to those who have still been denied visibility and exposing the myriad stereotypes in American film and TV.
(On demand)

PFLAG Connects: Virtual Vigil for Transgender Day of Remembrance Past Event Like List
Join PFLAG National and Waves Ahead for a virtual vigil in honor of Transgender Day of Remembrance. 
(Friday, November 20)

Transhood Remind Like List
In tried-and-true "where are they now?" fashion, this documentary, filmed over the course of five years, follows the lives of four young trans people navigating their identities in conservative Kansas City.
(On demand)