Trans Week

Trans Week

Trans Week events

Trans Week 2025

Trans Week 2025 is Nov 17-21st. This year we are excited to have our first ever legal clinic, a financial literacy workshop, and additional resources for the community. Please join us in celebrating our trans and gender expansive community at these events.

Unless otherwise specified, all of these events are open to the public.

AA/EO: Western events are intended for all participants, including those with apparent or non-apparent disabilities. For disability accommodation(s) or event questions please contact JoeHahn at lgbtq@western@wwu.edu or 360-650-7583. Advanced notice is appreciated and sometimes necessary to arrange for some accessibility needs.

Featured Events

Trans Day of Remembrance

Trans Day of Remembrance

Thursday, November 20th 5-7pm

Viking Union MPR, Western Washington University

Join LGBTQ+ Western, Bellingham Queer Collective, and PFLAG Whatcom/Bellingham as we honor the lives of trans and gender expansive people who have died from violence in the past year. Will include a reading of names, speakers, a continuation of the art project, and more. 

Sign up to speak or perform here

Event List

Monday November 17th  

  • Crafternoon: Creative Community Art Project
  • Supporting Trans Students at Western Lecture & Panel  

Tuesday November 18th  

  • Trans Legal Clinic & Resource Fair
  • For Us, By Us: Trans Tea Community Gathering
  • Trans Takeover Open Mic Night

Wednesday November 19th  

  • Transact: Trans and Gender Expansive Financial Literacy Workshop 

Thursday, November 20th 

  •  Supporting LGBTQ+ Faculty & Staff LGBTQ+ Advocacy Council Meeting
  • Trans Day of Remembrance Vigil.
    • 5-7pm Viking Union MPR:  

Friday, November 21st  

  • In Living Color: QTPOC Photo Shoot with the Halogen Project
  • Trans Centered Self Defense Lessons 

Thank You

We would like to thank student, staff, faculty, and community partners for their support in planning and hosting Trans Week.

(Note: Members must opt-in to be listed)

Trans Week Planning Committee:

  • Gee Kelly, Intersectional Experiences Coordinator for LGBTQ+ Western
  • Quinn Warren, Community Development Co-Coordinator for LGBTQ+ Western
  • Fiona Pelkie, Education & Advocacy Co-Coordinator for LGBTQ+ Western
  • Effie Brickell, Lead Peer Mentor for the Merriman Financial Literacy Program
  • Oscar Hastings, Disability Outreach Center
  • Peter Bode-Wagner, Merriman Financial Literacy Program
  • JoeHahn, He/They, LGBTQ+ Director & Interim Director of the Office of Multicultural Student Services

Trans Legal Clinic & Resource Fair Partners:

  • Northwest Justice Project
  • Counseling & Wellness Center
  • Student Health Center
  • Academic Advising and Student Achievement Center
  • Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies department
  • Basic Needs Hub
  • Western Success Scholars
  • PFLAG
  • Bellingaham Queer Collective

Trans Day of Remembrance Partners:

  • Bellingham Queer Collective
  • Bellingham Whatcom/Bellingham
  • Northwest Justice Project
  • Counseling & Wellness Center
  • Student Health Center
  • Academic Advising and Student Achievement Center
  • Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies department

Other Trans Week Partners:

  • Halogen Project: Remy Stryk
  • Ethnic Student Center
  • Black Student Coalition
  • Bellingham Brazillian Jiu Jitsu

 

 

Monday, November 17th 2025

Monday Crafternoons

Event Details

Join LGBTQ+ Western for a casual crafternoon making paper flowers that can be used at our altar for Trans Day of Remembrance or brought home by students for themselves or loved ones.

Date, Time, Location

Monday November 17th 2025

3-5pm

Viking Union 749 (LGBTQ+ Lounge)

Audience

Open for all!

Supporting Trans Students at Western Lecture & Panel

Event Details

Learn from LGBTQ+ Western staff about the state of trans students at Western and how faculty, staff, and students can support them. Then hear from a panel of Trans and Gender Expansive students as they tell their stories.

Date, Time, Location

Monday, November 17th 2025

4-6pm 

Fraser 101 & on Zoom

Zoom Registration Link

Audience

This session is recommend for Faculty and Staff and we encourage faculty to invite their classes to attend.

Tuesday, November 18th

Trans Legal Clinic and Resource Fair

Time, Date, Location

Tuesday, November 18th 2025

12-4pm

Viking Union | Resource Fair: 464 | Clinic Rooms: 460, 462A, 462B

Event Details

Join us for our annual resource fair with a new addition of free legal advice and information from Northwest Justice Project!

Attorneys from Northwest Justice Project will support students seeking advice on legal name changes or other services.

Free legal advice for name and gender marker changes! No appointment needed. Walk-ins welcome!

Free legal information and resources for community members dealing with other civil legal issues such as:

  • Housing issues
  • Debt
  • Family Law
  • Civil Protection orders
  • Wills/probate

Resource Fair

In addition to information about Northwest Justice Project and their services, we have the following campus and community partners also tabling at the resource fair.

  • LGBTQ+ Western
  • Academic Advising and Student Achievement Center
  • Counseling & Wellness Center
  • Bellingham Queer Collective

More resources are being added to this list! 

Pre-Register

Pre-register for an individual consultation to answer questions regarding your name and/or gender marker changes. Pre-registration is not required, but is encouraged for those seeking individualized legal advice. Please contact Xochil Hernandez Delgado at Xochil.Hernandez@nwjustice.org or 206-707-7562 to pre-register. 

Walk-Ins

Attorneys will be available for walk-in services without pre-registration. Please bring all relevant documents with you so that our attorneys can look at them.

Alternate Resources

If you are unable to attend this clinic and desire legal assistance, please call CLEAR at 1-888-201-1014 or complete the online webform at nwjustice.org/apply-online.

Disclaimer

*Disclaimer: The information in this flyer is not intended to and does not constitute the establishment of an attorney-client relationship between Northwest Justice Project and the individual seeking assistance.

Trans Tea: For Us, By Us

Event Details

Art is a key part of Trans history and community. Join us and the Disability Outreach Center as we host a Trans Tea focused on collage making and button making. Free refreshments.

Time, Date, Location

Tuesday, November 18th 4-5:30pm Viking Union 749 (LGBTQ+ Lounge)*

*Overflow back up location VU 735

Audience

This session centers Western Washington University trans and gender expansive students, though all are welcome including students from other institutions.

Wednesday, November 19th

Transactions: Trans and Gender Expansive Financial Literacy Workshop

Event Details

The Merriman Financial Literacy Program is partnering with LGBTQ+ Western to discuss financial literacy for Trans and Gender Expansive students. This interactive workshop will help attendees learn about costs for transitioning and resources to make legal name changes, HRT, gender-affirming clothing, and expenses more affordable.

Date, Time, Location

Wednesday, November 19th

4-5:30pm

Viking Union 735

Audience

This event centers trans and gender expansive Western students, though is open for anyone to attend.

What to Bring

Notebook or laptop/tablet, any budgetary resources you use, and notes on how you have navigating expenses so far in your transition.

Don't have any of these? No worries! You do not need anything to participate.

Thursday, November 20th

Trans Day of Remembrance

Supporting LGBTQ+ Faculty & Staff

Event Description:

The LGBTQ+ Advocacy Council supports LGBTQ+ faculty and staff. All Western faculty and staff are invited to attend and discuss how we can support trans and gender expansive faculty and staff.

Event Details:

Thursday, November 20th 12-1pm

Viking Union 735 and Teams

Join the Teams Channel

Audience:

Open only to Western Faculty & Staff

Trans Day of Remembrance

Thursday, November 20th 5-7pm

Viking Union MPR, Western Washington University

Join LGBTQ+ Western, Bellingham Queer Collective, and PFLAG Whatcom/Bellingham as we honor the lives of trans and gender expansive people who have died from violence in the past year. Will include a reading of names, speakers, a continuation of the art project, and more. 

Sign up to speak or perform here

In Living Color: QTPOC Photoshoot

Event Details:

Remy Styrk from the Halogen Project will be coming to Western for a photography session centering out Queer & Trans Students of Color. Students can attend for free. 

See examples of Remy's work here.

Pre-Registration is encouraged and can be done here.

Time, Date, Location:

Friday, November 21st

1-3pm

Meet at Viking Union Ethnic Student Center front desk.

Recommended Dress:

Whatever is affirming for you! We may go outside, so be prepared for warmer clothing.

 

Trans & Gender Expansive Self-Defense Class

Event Details:

Bellingham Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu will be hosting a free self-defense class for trans and gender expansive students in this inclusive environment with trans and non-binary instructors.

Sign Up Here Pre-registration encouraged but not required

Time, Date, Location:

Friday, November 21st

3-4pm

Viking Union 464

Recommended Dress:

Clothing that is comfortable and easy to move in. Avoid accessories that could hurt your grappling partner. 

Trans Week 2024

Welcome! Trans Week is a week centering, celebrating, commemorating, trans and gender expansive people.

Poster of the trans week events

Detailed Event Schedule

Wednesday, Nov 13th 

3-4pm

Viking Union 735

Watch the NBC News Documentary that discusses the state of Trans people and youth in America, featuring various trans youth and their families across the country. Part of the Rainbow Roots affinity group for LGBTQ+ people seeking support related to their families.

Wednesday, November 13th

3-4pm 

Viking Union 740

Join the Queer Men's Gathering for Black Out Poetry!

Wednesday, November 13th

4-5pm 

Black Student Coalition (VU 504)

Come watch (or rewatch!) the first episode of the Black Trans-centric hit show POSE and discuss the representation of Black trans folks in the media.

Wednesday, November 13th

4-5:30pm 

Viking Union 462

Join the weekly T.A.G. Team club meeting, the Trans & Gender Non-Conforming club on campus!

Wednesday November 13th

4:30-5:30pm

Miller Hall ____

Join Out in Education in a special meeting featuring A____ Professor Melissa Osborne as they discuss their book ____.

Thursday, November 14th

2-4pm 

Kitto Grad Hub | Haggard Hall 219

Join the Over the Rainbow Affinity Group to discuss Trans History! Faciliated by LGBTQ+ Director JoeHahn

 

Thursday, November 14th 

2-4pm

Viking Union 735

Come to our quarterly clothing swap! We have a bunch of clothes to give away, so no need to donate! If you have any donations, we are looking for specifically for binders, packers, and other gender affirming clothing items.

11/18-11/20

Red Square

We will have a passive display in Red Square from 11/18-11/20 that pays respect to the trans folks nationwide who died in the past year to violence or suicide. You can write a message in the journal or read the biographies.

Thursday, November 14th 

11am-3pm

Viking Union 735

Come to our quarterly clothing swap! We have a bunch of clothes to give away, so no need to donate! If you have any donations, we are looking for specifically for binders, packers, and other gender affirming clothing items.

Monday, November 18th

4:30-6:30pm

Viking Union 735

Our space for poly and ethically non-monogamous students will focus a discussion on trans-inclusive and affirming relationships.

Tuesday, November 19th

4-6pm

Viking Union 462

Join our bi-weekly Trans Tea space to discuss how we can create more supportive environments for Trans Femmes at Western!

Tuesday, November 19th

7-9pm 

Underground Coffee House

Join us for the annual Open Mic Night centering trans artists, poets, speakers, and mroe. All are welcome and anyone can speak!

Wednesday, November 20th

Main Event 4:00-6pm | Processing Space 6-7pm

Underground Coffee House

Join us for the annual Trans Day of Remembrance Vigil. This year, we will have a safe-paced engagement where you can review the stories of the trans lives we are acknowledging. Then, hear from community members and students as they share songs, poems, and stories. Counseling and Wellness Center staff will be present to provide support.

Include with Resources