November 2026 Campaign
Transgender Awareness Week & Day of Remembrance
Trans Awareness WeekNov 13–19, 2026
Day of RemembranceNov 20, 2026
NUSL calls itself “the queerest law school in the nation.” This campaign anchors that identity in law, history, and action.
30%
of incoming NUSL students identified as LGBTQ+
NUSL, Fall 2022
Chase Strangio '10
First openly trans lawyer to argue at the US Supreme Court
Skrmetti, Dec. 2024
Nov 20
Transgender Day of Remembrance, observed worldwide since 1999
TDOR.info
01
Why this campaign
Northeastern Law has publicly described itself as “the queerest law school in the nation.” This campaign grounds that institutional language in the school’s current official program, faculty, alumni, and student-resource pages.
An official November 2022 NUSL article reported that 30% of that fall’s incoming JD and FlexJD students self-identified as LGBTQ+. Treat that figure as a dated cohort snapshot, not a current enrollment statistic. In December 2024, NUSL alumnus Chase Strangio ’10 became the first openly transgender lawyer to argue before the United States Supreme Court.
Primary-source review: legal claims must be checked against the linked court opinion, statute, executive action, agency, university, or originating organization before reuse. Litigation and services can change after this page’s review date.
Emergency & key contacts — keep these close
Trans Lifeline (peer-staffed, trans volunteers, 24/7)
Trevor Project (LGBTQ youth under 25)
1-866-488-7386 | Text START to 678-678 | trevorspace.org
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (LGBTQ option: press 3)
Call or text 988
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741
Show 10 more critical contacts
Find@Northeastern (NEU 24/7 counseling, all students)
NU LGBTQA Resource Center (Curry 174)
(617) 373-2738 | lgbtqa@northeastern.edu | lgbtqaresources@northeastern.edu
NEU Health and Counseling Services (HRT + affirming care)
617-373-2772 | northeastern.edu/uhcs
Fenway Health THP (trans healthcare, Boston)
617-267-0900 | THP intake: 617-927-6202
MTPC (ID assistance + name-change clinics, MA)
617-778-0519 | masstpc.org
Transgender Emergency Fund MA (housing + emergency $, MA residents)
Black and Pink MA (trans-POC, formerly incarcerated)
617-992-6449 | blackandpinkma.org
GLAD Law Answers (legal info, New England, NOT crisis)
800-455-4523 | M–F 1:30–4:30 PM | gladlaw.org
Transgender Law Center Helpdesk (national, NOT crisis)
510-587-9696 (English) | 415-296-2029 (Spanish)
NUPD Emergency
02
By the numbers
VIOLENCE AGAINST TRANS PEOPLE — TDOR 2025 DATA
27
trans and gender-nonconforming people were killed in the US in the year leading up to TDOR 2025 (Nov. 2024–Nov. 20, 2025)
HRC Foundation, 'Remembrance Is Not Enough,' released Nov. 20, 2025. hrc.org. HRC notes 'at least' — many deaths go unreported or misgendered by law enforcement and media.
399
trans and gender-nonconforming people killed in the US since HRC began tracking in 2013
HRC 2025 TDOR Report. Of the 399: 70% were Black people and nearly 60% were Black trans women. (HRC uses this specific breakdown rather than a single "people of color" figure.)
A4TE 2025 Remembrance Report: 58 trans people lost since TDOR 2024 — 27 by violence, 21 by suicide, 8 natural causes
Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE), transequality.org. Released Nov. 13, 2025. A4TE counts all causes of loss; HRC counts fatal violence only. Both numbers are correct and serve different purposes.
TGEU: 281 trans people murdered worldwide Oct. 2024–Sept. 2025; 88% trans people of color
Trans Europe and Central Asia (TGEU) Trans Murder Monitoring, tgeu.org. Global figure.
VIOLENCE, VICTIMIZATION AND POVERTY — BROADER DATA
LGBT people experience 106.4 violent victimizations per 1,000 persons; trans people experience 93.7 per 1,000 — compared to 21.1 per 1,000 among non-LGBT people
Secondary analysis of pooled 2022–2023 National Crime Victimization Survey data. Use the Bureau of Justice Statistics NCVS documentation and data as the primary authority; independently reproduce subgroup estimates before publication.
LGBT people experience violent hate crimes at 6.4 per 1,000, compared to 0.7 per 1,000 among non-LGBT people — approximately 9 times the rate
Secondary analysis of pooled NCVS data; verify against the official BJS dataset and methodology before reuse.
Trans people experience violent victimization at 86.2 per 1,000 vs. 21.7 per 1,000 for cisgender people — more than four times as often. 1 in 4 trans women who were victimized believed the incident was motivated by anti-trans bias.
Published analysis of pooled 2017–2018 NCVS data. The underlying BJS survey is primary; reproduce the estimate from official data before presenting it as current.
34%
of trans survey respondents were experiencing poverty at the time of the survey; 18% were unemployed
National Center for Transgender Equality / A4TE, 2022 U.S. Trans Survey (92,329 respondents — the largest survey of trans people in US history). Released Feb. 7, 2024. ustranssurvey.org.
Show 5 more data points
11%
of trans people who had ever held a job were fired, forced to resign, or otherwise lost a job due to their gender identity or expression
2022 U.S. Trans Survey. Same source above.
30%
of trans respondents had experienced homelessness in their lifetime; 39% reported online harassment in the prior 12 months; 30% reported verbal harassment
2022 U.S. Trans Survey. Same source above.
An estimated 1.6 million Americans over age 13 identify as transgender
Secondary demographic estimate — retained as a research lead, not certified. Confirm the estimate and methodology in the originating study before publication.
State legislation changes throughout the year
The former advocacy-tracker totals are retained only as a dated research lead. For legal work, verify each measure in the relevant legislature’s official bill history, session law, and current code.
Current law
The status of gender-affirming-care restrictions varies by state and litigation posture
A June 2026 cross-state count is not controlling authority. Start with the official state statute and current court docket for the jurisdiction at issue.
03
At Northeastern Law
NUSL LGBTQ+ HERITAGE
Chase Strangio '10 — ALUMNUS
Chase Strangio is a Northeastern Law Class of 2010 graduate and Deputy Director for Transgender Justice at the ACLU. In December 2024, he became the first openly transgender person to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court — arguing for the plaintiffs in United States v. Skrmetti (Tennessee's gender-affirming care ban). NUSL featured Strangio prominently in its Winter 2025 Law Magazine ('Out in Front'). His career began at a public-interest co-op from NUSL.
Mary Bonauto '87 — ALUMNA
Mary Bonauto is the GLAD Law Civil Rights Project Director and architect of marriage equality in the US — argued Goodridge v. Dept. of Public Health (MA, 2003, first same-sex marriage ruling in US history) and Obergefell v. Hodges (SCOTUS, 2015). NUSL Class of 1987. A foundational figure in LGBTQ+ legal history.
Prof. Libby Adler — FACULTY
Professor of Law AND Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies (joint appointment, NUSL + CSSH). NUSL JD 1994. Teaches: Constitutional Law; Sexuality, Gender and the Law (LAW/LW 7488); Family Law; Administrative Law. Author of Gay Priori: A Queer Critical Legal Studies Approach to Law Reform (Duke University Press, April 2018); forthcoming: The Queerness of Political Economies (Cambridge University Press, 2026). Recipient of the 2023 AALS Section on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Issues (SOGII) LGBTQ+ Individual Inclusive Excellence Award.
NUSL AALS SOGII Award — INSTITUTIONAL
NUSL received the 2022 AALS SOGII Institutional Inclusive Excellence Award — recognizing law schools that have shown sustained commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusive excellence in legal education. NUSL is mentioned as a recipient in the 2023 AALS materials as well.
Show 3 more items
NUSL Lavender Law® Sponsorship
NUSL sponsors National LGBTQ+ Bar Association memberships for any student who wants one. Student members receive free entry to the Lavender Law® Conference & Career Fair and may seek travel funding from the NU Graduate Student Government. The 2026 Lavender Law® Conference is July 13–15, 2026, at the Marriott Marquis Chicago — NUSL students are eligible to attend this year.
Reach(OUT) Conference
Boston-area LGBTQ+ law student career conference; NUSL participates. Also: NUSL sponsors students at the Massachusetts LGBTQ+ Bar Association networking dinner and the GLAD Spirit of Justice gala.
Proposed LGBTQ+ Legal Clinic — STATUS: NOT ESTABLISHED
The Queer Caucus has been lobbying for an LGBTQ+ legal clinic. Per Director of Development Lindsey Sadonis (Winter 2025 Law Magazine): 'The school is very supportive of launching a clinic, but it is an expensive undertaking… We are actively engaged in conversations with potential donors.' Student advocates Sara McKenna '25 and Anthony Black '25 have led this effort. The clinic remains proposed, not operational.
LGBTQA RESOURCE CENTER — PROGRAMS, CONTACTS, AND SERVICES
LGBTQA Resource Center — Core Contact
lgbtqa.northeastern.edu Curry Student Center, Room 174, 360 Huntington Ave, Boston MA 02115 Hours: M–Th 9am–6pm, F 9am–5pm (fall spring semesters); M–F 9am–5pm (breaks and summer) 4 full-time professional staff + Queer Assembly student leaders + student employees
Resource Navigation — 1-on-1 Support
LGBTQIA2S+ Resource Navigation Form: lgbtqa. Trained Peer Resource Navigators help community members find and access any resource listed. This is a good first contact for FlexJD students with questions about trans resources. Remote-accessible.
Trans & Gender Non-Conforming (TGNC) Identity Group
A regular space for transgender, nonbinary, genderqueer, and gender-diverse students on campus. Schedule posted at lgbtqa. This is the primary trans community space at NEU. Remote virtual attendance may be available — confirm with the Center.
OWAM (One Weekday A Month) — Graduate Student Programming
Monthly programming specifically including an LGBTQIA2S+ Graduate Students group — directly accessible for FlexJD law students. Check lgbtqa. for monthly schedule.
Affirmation Access Project (AAP)
Free material resources for gender-affirming items. Also: BAGLY provides free binders, bras, tucking underwear, and gender-affirming clothing to any NU student (see Section 4, Boston-area). Connect via AAP through the LGBTQA Center.
250+ book library; weekly events digest
The Center maintains a specialized library of LGBTQ+ texts and sends a weekly events digest. Email to subscribe.
NEU CHOSEN NAME + GENDER MARKER POLICY — WHAT STUDENTS NEED TO KNOW
Class rosters, Canvas, Outlook, Husky ID card
Chosen name displays in lieu of legal name in all systems that can accommodate it, including class rosters, transcripts, Canvas, Outlook contact card, and the Husky ID card. Process: submit a Personal Details Update ServiceNow ticket (students). Updates can take several weeks.
Diploma
Students may choose to have EITHER the chosen name or the legal name printed on the diploma. Specify your preference in the ServiceNow ticket.
Gender marker in university systems
Gender markers display in the housing and intramural-sports systems. Process: same ServiceNow ticket. Gender marker ≠ legal sex — updating it in NU systems does not update legal documents.
Documents requiring legal name
Financial aid, billing, immigration documents, and tax documents require the legal name regardless of chosen-name preferences. This is federal/legal compliance, not university preference.
Show 3 more items
Staff and faculty
Update via HRST@northeastern.edu.
1-on-1 consultations
The LGBTQA Center offers 1-on-1 name-change consultations with staff or Peer Resource Navigators — recommended for students uncertain about the process. Remote support available.
Legal name and gender-marker changes — guidance
See Section 6 (MA Law) for the legal process for name and gender-marker changes in Massachusetts. The LGBTQA Center's lgbtqa.northeastern.edu/name-and-or-gender-marker-change page guides students through BOTH the NU systems process AND the legal process.
NEU HEALTH, COUNSELING, AND TITLE IX — TRANS-RELEVANT SERVICES
NEU Health and Counseling Services (NUHCS)
NUHCS provides Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), LGBTQIA2S+-affirming mental health services, surgical referral letters, and safe sharps disposal. Office visits are FREE for enrolled students; labs imaging medication billed to insurance. BCBS MA transgender-services coverage is available to students, spouses, and dependent children enrolled in the student health plan.
Find@Northeastern (24/7 counseling)
Free counseling (up to 5 sessions semester) + Headspace access. Available to ALL NU students 24 7 365 including remote FlexJD students. For crisis support after hours, this is the primary NEU resource.
OUEC Gender Identity and Pronoun Policy
The Office for University Equity and Compliance (OUEC, ouec.) publishes faculty guidance requiring instructors to: include pronouns in introductions, syllabi, and email signatures; honor name and pronouns in all settings even when the student is not present; not disclose a student's gender identity without consent. Students who experience gender-identity-based discrimination may file a complaint with OUEC.
Title IX and gender identity
Title IX Coordinator: Mark Jannoni, ; Richards Hall 125; . Gender-identity discrimination complaints (OUEC) are separate from Title IX-sexual-assault complaints but may be handled by the same office. OUEC is the filing body for both.
NUSL ACADEMIC PROGRAMS RELEVANT TO TRANS STUDENTS AND FUTURE LAWYERS
Prof. Libby Adler — Contact
law. Joint Professor of Law + WGSS. See Section 1 for full biography. The faculty resource for Sexuality, Gender and the Law at NUSL.
LAW/LW 7488 — 'Sexuality, Gender and the Law' (3 credits)
Uses case law and theory to address doctrinal problems and justice concerns associated with gender and sexuality, organized around notions such as privacy, identity, and consent. Taught by Prof. Adler.
LW 7588 — 'Reproductive Rights and Health' (3 credits)
Covers abortion, sexuality, pregnancy, marriage, healthcare in prisons, immigrants, HIV AIDS, and sex education. Cross-listed for law students.
JDx Graduate Certificate in 'Women, Gender, Sexuality and the Law'
law. Sample courses include Queer Theory: Sexualities, Genders, Politics; Race and the Law; and Reproductive Rights and Health.
Queer Caucus (QC)
Instagram: @qc_nusl NUSL's LGBTQ+ law student org. QC frequently co-hosts trans awareness programming and is a natural campus partner for events.
Digital Transgender Archive (DTA) — hosted at NEU
FREE global digital archive of 10,300+ historical materials on trans history, pre-2000, spanning late 16th to late 20th centuries. Founded 2016, NEU Prof. K.J. Rawson. $500,000 Mellon Foundation grant (2024).
04
The legal framework
MASSACHUSETTS — CURRENT LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR TRANS PEOPLE
✅ MAJOR 2025 UPDATE: MA name-change law (eff. Nov. 25, 2025)
Gov. Healey signed a budget provision on Nov. 25, 2025 ELIMINATING the newspaper publication requirement for legal name changes and making name-change court records CONFIDENTIAL, effective immediately. Official authority: M.G.L. c. 210, § 13, as amended by 2025 c. 73, § 53, effective November 25, 2025. Public notice is no longer automatic, but a court may require it for good cause; records are restricted unless the court orders otherwise or the petitioner requests access.
Legal name change — Process (Probate and Family Court)
File petition in Probate and Family Court in your MA county. Filing fee: ~$150–$500; fee waivers available via Affidavit of Indigency. Records now confidential per Nov. 2025 law. MTPC Namesake platform auto-fills the paperwork (free). Resources: masstpc.org/what-we-do/ida-network, GLAD Law gladlaw.org/issues/gender-x-marker-massachusetts
Birth certificate gender-marker amendment (MA)
Registry of Vital Records & Statistics | 150 Mt. Vernon St., 1st Floor, Dorchester MA 02125 | main: 617-740-2600 | amendments: 617-740-2674 / NO medical documentation or court order required — self-attestation only. X (non-binary) marker available. Separate from legal name change.
Driver's license / ID gender marker (RMV)
Self-attestation; no documentation required. X marker available. mass.gov/how-to/change-gender-marker-on-your-massachusetts-license-or-id
Show 5 more items
Trump v. Orr (Nov. 6, 2025) — Federal passports
Supreme Court docket 25A319. The Court stayed the district court injunction, allowing the State Department to enforce its policy of issuing passports reflecting sex assigned at birth. Justice Jackson dissented (joined by Sotomayor and Kagan). Over 214,000 public comments had opposed the policy. State-level documents (birth certificate, driver's license) are UNAFFECTED — this applies only to federal documents (passports, federal ID).
MA health-care protections (St. 2025 c. 16) — approved Aug. 7, 2025
Read the official session law. Key provisions include: blocks MA courts from treating a parent's support of a child's transgender care as abuse or neglect; prescription labels may display practice name instead of individual physician (safety protection for providers); codifies emergency abortion access; limits release of sensitive health data to out-of-state authorities. / MA is one of 22 states plus D.C. with shield protections for trans healthcare.
MA Gender Identity Nondiscrimination Law (MGL c. 272 §98, St. 2016 c. 134)
Prohibits discrimination based on gender identity in public accommodations including restrooms and locker rooms. Still in force. Affirms the right of trans people to use facilities consistent with gender identity.
MA Employment and Housing Nondiscrimination (MGL c. 151B)
Prohibits gender identity discrimination in employment, housing, credit, education, and public accommodations. Enforced by the MA Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD): 617-994-6000 | mass.gov/mcad
Additional MA protective statutes
MGL c. 12 §11I½ — Interference with gender-affirming care is a civil rights violation / St. 2025 c. 16 — Shield Act 2.0 (see above) / MGL c. 112 §275 — Conversion therapy banned for people under 18 / MGL c. 111 §72GG — Long-term-care nondiscrimination (eff. June 3, 2025) / MGL c. 272 §98 — Public accommodations (gender identity protected since 2016)
THE 2025–2026 FEDERAL LEGAL LANDSCAPE
★ United States v. Skrmetti (SCOTUS, June 18, 2025) — MOST IMPORTANT 2025 CASE
6-3 decision. Chief Justice Roberts wrote for the majority; Thomas and Barrett concurring; Alito concurring in part; Sotomayor dissented (joined by Jackson; Kagan in part). / Holding: Tennessee SB1's ban on puberty blockers and hormones for transgender minors SURVIVES rational-basis review. The law classifies only on age and medical use — not on sex or transgender status — so it does not trigger heightened scrutiny. / Notably, the Court expressly declined to extend Bostock v. Clayton County beyond Title VII. Bostock remains the law for Title VII employment discrimination but was NOT expanded. / Also: 27 state gender-affirming care bans for minors now in effect; Montana and Arkansas bans remain blocked pending further proceedings. / Chase Strangio '10 argued for the plaintiffs.
Bostock v. Clayton County (SCOTUS, 2020) — Still good law
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination against employees based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Employers cannot fire, demote, or harass workers who are gay or transgender. Still the controlling federal employment discrimination standard. Skrmetti expressly declined to extend it beyond Title VII but did NOT disturb it.
Trump Executive Order 14168 (Jan. 20, 2025)
'Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism' — directs federal agencies to recognize only two sexes defined at conception; requires passports, visas, and Global Entry to reflect sex assigned at birth. Trump v. Orr (Nov. 6, 2025) allowed enforcement while litigation continues.
Trump Executive Order 14183 (Jan. 27, 2025)
'Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness' — trans military ban. SCOTUS allowed enforcement May 6, 2025. D.C. Circuit ruled June 1, 2026: currently serving trans members may continue, but the military services may refuse new trans enlistees.
Trump Executive Order 14187 (Jan. 28, 2025)
Seeks to ban federally funded gender-affirming care for people under 19. Blocked by preliminary injunction in PFLAG v. Trump (March 2025) — as of June 2026, the ban is NOT in effect but litigation continues.
EEOC and federal agency rollbacks
HUD proposed rolling back trans protections in federally funded shelters under the Equal Access Rule. EEOC removed gender-identity references from agency materials. Federal enforcement posture has shifted even though Bostock remains the statutory law.
Trump v. Orr (Nov. 6, 2025)
SCOTUS stayed the district court injunction in the passport case. State Department is enforcing sex-assigned-at-birth on passports. State-level IDs unaffected. Over 214,000 public comments opposed. Justice Jackson dissented.
KEY CASES FOR LAW SCHOOL DISCUSSION
Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins (SCOTUS, 1989)
Established sex-stereotyping doctrine under Title VII: employers cannot discriminate based on failure to conform to gender norms. The doctrinal foundation that later supported Bostock.
Grimm v. Gloucester County School Board (4th Cir., 2020)
Title IX protects transgender students. The 4th Circuit ruled that Gavin Grimm had the right to use the bathroom consistent with his gender identity. SCOTUS declined cert.
Whitaker v. Kenosha Unified School District (7th Cir., 2017)
Title IX and Equal Protection both protect trans students' right to use restrooms consistent with gender identity. Another circuit precedent.
Kadel v. Folwell (4th Cir., 2024 — pre-Skrmetti)
4th Circuit struck down Medicaid exclusions for gender-affirming care under intermediate scrutiny. Vacated and remanded in light of Skrmetti; outcome on remand pending.
Shilling v. Trump (D.D.C., pending)
Lambda Legal and HRC challenging the trans military ban under First and Fifth Amendments. Active litigation as of June 2026.
05
Organizations & resources
TRANS-SPECIFIC BOSTON/MA ORGANIZATIONS
Fenway Health — Transgender Health Program (THP)
(main) THP intake: (state at start of call that you are transgender or nonbinary) Appointments: Ansin Building, 1340 Boylston St., Boston (also: 142 Berkeley St., 75 Kneeland St.) Services: individual therapy, group therapy, support groups, hormone therapy, primary care, navigation. Insurance: BCBS MA, Tufts, Cigna, MassHealth, Harvard Pilgrim, Aetna, United.
MTPC — Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition
masstpc.org PO Box 960784, Boston MA 02196 Identity Document Assistance (IDA) Network: up to $500 financial assistance for name gender-marker changes for trans NB New Englanders. Free Namesake platform auto-fills name-change paperwork. Statewide + virtual name-change clinics. Organizes the annual Boston TDOR coalition vigil.
Transgender Emergency Fund of Massachusetts
Founded 2008 by Jesse Pack and Chastity Bowick. Services: emergency financial assistance, case management, AND the only structured transitional housing program in MA specifically for transgender nonbinary GNC people — a SIX-MONTH residential program with employment support, life-skills development, and housing navigation (Cambridge-area). Eligibility: must be a MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENT under the trans nonbinary GNC umbrella. Volunteer-run, donation-funded. Disbursements are case-by-case as funds allow.
Black and Pink Massachusetts — CRITICAL RESOURCE FOR TDOR
blackandpinkma.org Executive Director: Michael Cox Office hours: Tue–Thu 11am–2pm (Cambridge) Mission: prison abolition and direct services for LGBTQIA2S+ people and people living with HIV impacted by incarceration and criminalization. Alexia Norena House (opened Aug. 15, 2022): Cambridge-based transitional housing EXCLUSIVELY for transgender people leaving incarceration — 4 residents + 1 emergency bed. Pen-pal program: 125+ currently incarcerated LGBTQ+ members. Note for TDOR context: Black and Pink MA centers Black trans and trans-POC voices — directly responsive to the fact that 70% of TDOR victims are Black and nearly 60% are Black trans women.
BAGLY (Boston Alliance of LGBTQ+ Youth)
28 Court Square, Boston Primarily in-person youth services, not a 24/7 crisis line — for crisis support, contact Trans Lifeline or the Trevor Project instead. Services for under-25: free gender-affirming clothing binders bras tucking underwear, emergency direct aid (housing, food, transportation), mental health referral, HIV STI testing. BIPOC youth prioritized for some programs.
GLAD Law — Transgender ID Project + GLAD Law Answers
GLAD Law Answers (free, confidential legal info line): 800-455-GLAD () M–F 1:30–4:30 PM ET Live chat and email intake also available. Jennifer Levi directs Transgender & Queer Rights work. Transgender ID Project: free guidance on updating name gender on driver's license, state ID, birth certificate, passport, and Social Security for CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT residents. Joint project with Ropes & Gray, Goodwin, and Pierce Atwood (pro bono name-change clinics since 2016).
BOSTON TDOR VIGIL COALITION + MA STATE INFRASTRUCTURE
Boston TDOR Vigil Coalition
Coalition includes: TransResistance MA, Chastity Bowick Consulting, MTPC, Boston Health Care for the Homeless, MassEquality, The Network La Red, The Theater Offensive, City of Boston Mayor's Office of LGBTQ+ Advancement, MA Commission on LGBTQ Youth. 2025 vigil: Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Nov. 20, 2025, 7:30 PM. 2026 vigil: contact MTPC (; ) after September to confirm date and location. TDOR honors Rita Hester, a Black trans woman murdered in Allston, MA on November 28, 1998 — the founding victim of the observance.
Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth
Director: Corey Prachniak-Rincón (JD Georgetown, MPH Harvard; previously launched an LGBTQ legal clinic at Whitman-Walker Health) Coordinator: Dharani Persaud An independent 50-member state agency. Programs: Safe Schools Program (with DESE), statewide GSA network, suicide prevention and anti-harassment work for LGBTQ youth. Co-coordinates statewide TDOR vigil support.
PFLAG Boston/PFLAG New England
for national chapter finder Family support for LGBTQ+ people and their families. Meeting schedule posted on local chapter site. Relevant resource for trans students whose families are navigating identity questions.
The Network/La Red
LGBTQ+-serving DV organization in Boston. Inclusive of trans survivors. See the September campaign page for full contact details. Verify current phone number at before publishing.
Boston-area law-school legal clinics (referral for pro bono connections)
Harvard HLS Hale and Dorr Legal Services Center: 122 Boylston St., Jamaica Plain; Harvard Legal Aid Bureau: (includes SIJS cases) De Novo (Cambridge): (immigration, DV, housing) NUSL FlexJD students exploring pro bono in trans-related ID, immigration, and DV work can inquire about these clinics as referral partners.
CRISIS SUPPORT
Trans Lifeline (peer-staffed, 24/7)
Staffed EXCLUSIVELY by trans volunteers. US & Canada. Spanish available. Trans Lifeline is independent of the 988 Lifeline — it offers peer support specifically from other trans people.
Trans Lifeline Name Change Microgrants
Applications open the 1st–14th of each month. The Microgrants program was paused in 2024 due to financial uncertainty and relaunched in October 2025. As of relaunch: on the 15th of each month, 32 applications are selected randomly, with 75% reserved for BIPOC trans people. Grants cover court-ordered name-change fees plus corrections to passports, driver's licenses, state IDs, birth certificates, and Tribal IDs. Confirm the program is currently accepting applications before referring students.
Trevor Project (LGBTQ youth under 25)
TrevorChat: online chat at TrevorText: text START to 678-678 TrevorSpace: moderated social community at Crisis intervention + suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth. Age limit: primary services designed for under 25.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — LGBTQ+ option
Call or text 988 Press 3 for LGBTQ-specific support The LGBTQ+ option is operated by The Trevor Project in partnership with SAMHSA. Trained LGBTQ+-affirming counselors available. Available to callers of all ages (not under-25 limited like Trevor's other services).
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741 LGBTQ+-affirming counselors available on request. Note: keyword HOME is the general entry; no separate LGBTQ+ keyword required.
LEGAL ADVOCACY AND INFORMATION ORGANIZATIONS
Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE) — formerly NCTE + TLDEF
transequality.org (redirects from NCTE site) 228 Park Ave South PMB 38268, New York NY 10003 Formed Oct. 1, 2024 from the merger of the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) and Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (TLDEF). CEO: Andy Marra. Programs: 2022 US Trans Survey, Name Change Project, ID Documents Center, State Action Center. Publishes the annual Trans Remembrance Report (released ~Nov. 13 each year).
GLAD Law
GLAD Law Answers: (800-455-GLAD) M–F 1:30–4:30 PM Legal information for LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV in New England. Jennifer Levi directs Transgender & Queer Rights. Runs the Transgender ID Project (see Section 4). Free, confidential. NOT a crisis line — legal information only.
Transgender Law Center
Largest trans-led national civil rights org. Legal Information Helpdesk: (English) (Spanish) Collect line for people in prison detention: NOT an emergency line — provides general legal information on employment, healthcare, housing, immigration, prisoners' rights, and ID changes. Also runs Trans Immigrant Defense Effort (TIDE).
Lambda Legal Help Desk
Online intake only; NOT for emergencies. Provides general legal information on sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination and HIV discrimination. Lambda is currently litigating Shilling v. Trump (trans military ban) with HRC.
Show 3 more resources
National LGBTQ Bar Association
For law students: free membership sponsored by NUSL + free Lavender Law® conference entry. 2026 Lavender Law: July 13–15, Marriott Marquis Chicago. Resources: Out & Proud Law School guides, Diversity Fellowship database. NUSL is an active sponsor.
National Center for Trans Equality (historical name — now A4TE)
is now A4TE. The NCTE brand has been fully retired as of Oct. 1, 2024. Do not reference NCTE as a current organization — cite A4TE.
ABA Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI)
Publishes LGBTQ+ resources for law students; ABA has affirmed SOGI nondiscrimination principles. Check for current TDOR materials in the fall.
MEDIA, TOOLKIT, AND SOCIAL-CONTENT RESOURCES
GLAAD — TDOR Toolkits
glaad.org/tdorglaad.org/publications/tdorresourcesglaad.org/publications/tdorkitglaad.org/transweekglaad.org/reference
TDOR Resource Kit for Individuals and journalists — Individual TDOR resource kit — TDOR Resource Kit for Journalists media — Trans Awareness Week resources, downloadable social graphics and wallpapers Media Reference Guide (trans terminology) at — FREE, the standard for journalists and content creators covering trans issues
'Give Them Their Flowers' — National Virtual TDOR Vigil
Hosted annually on Nov. 20 by GLAAD + A4TE + Transgender Law Center + HRC + Equality Federation + Keshet. Fully virtual — perfect for FlexJD remote students in Honolulu and across the US who cannot attend the Boston coalition vigil. Promote this as the remote TDOR participation option.
Human Rights Campaign (HRC) TDOR Resources
hrc.org “Remembrance Is Not Enough” annual reporthrc.org/resources/epidemic-of-violence-reportshrc.org
Annual 'Epidemic of Violence' TDOR report (released Nov. 20 each year) — Free social media graphics and educational materials Free TDOR toolkit for employers and organizations at
A4TE TDOR Remembrance Report
Released annually around Nov. 13 (Trans Awareness Week opening). Covers all causes of loss among trans people, not just violence. The 58 total deaths reported for 2025 — 27 from violence, 21 from suicide, and 8 from natural causes — come from this report.
FELLOWSHIPS, CONFERENCES, AND CAREER RESOURCES
National LGBTQ+ Bar Association — sponsored by NUSL
NUSL sponsors membership for any student who wants one. Benefits: free Lavender Law® Conference & Career Fair entry; Diversity Fellowship database; Out & Proud Law School Guide; networking with LGBTQ+ attorneys nationwide. 2026 Lavender Law® Conference: July 13–15, 2026, Marriott Marquis Chicago. FlexJD students may seek travel funding via NU GSG.
Reach(OUT) Conference
Boston-area LGBTQ+ law student career conference. NUSL participates. Check law. or National LGBTQ+ Bar for upcoming date.
GLAD Spirit of Justice Gala
NUSL sponsors student tickets. Networking with the LGBTQ+ legal community in New England.
MA LGBTQ+ Bar Association
NUSL sponsors students at the MA LGBTQ+ Bar Association networking dinner.
Trans-specific practice areas: where today's legal work is happening
Employment: Bostock protections + EEOC enforcement posture shifts + state law Healthcare: ACA §1557 litigation; Medicaid exclusions (post-Kadel remand); youth gender-affirming care post-Skrmetti Immigration: asylum for trans people fleeing persecution; TIDE at Transgender Law Center Family: adoption, parental rights in anti-trans states, name changes for children Criminal justice prisons: Black and Pink MA; housing policy for trans prisoners ID documents: GLAD Law Trans ID Project; MTPC IDA Network Constitutional law: equal protection post-Skrmetti; military service
06
Key facts & framing
TDOR-SPECIFIC FRAMING GUIDANCE
TDOR is a solemn grief and memorial observance — not a celebration
Tone should reflect grief, witness, and resolve — not awareness-month uplift. The reading of names is a ritual of mourning. Content should be dignified, not sensationalized. Silence and solemnity are appropriate on Nov. 20. Trans Awareness Week (Nov. 13–19) is the appropriate window for educational and resource-focused content.
Use chosen name and correct pronouns for each victim
GLAAD guidance: use each person's CHOSEN name and correct pronouns — which may differ from what appeared in law enforcement reports or media. This honors their identity and counters the common pattern of posthumous misgendering.
Do NOT sensationalize violence
GLAAD: avoid graphic descriptions of how individuals were killed. State the fact that they were murdered; do not reproduce violent imagery or details. This is consistent with AFSP Safe Messaging Guidelines and GLAAD's Media Reference Guide.
Pair memorial content with living trans people's contributions
GLAAD: the exclusive focus on death and violence can dehumanize trans people and distort the public perception of trans lives. Balance TDOR memorial content with the diversity, resilience, creativity, and legal advocacy of the living trans community. Highlight Chase Strangio '10, Prof. Adler, trans-led organizations like Black and Pink MA.
Show 3 more items
AFSP Safe Messaging Guidelines — always in effect
Safe messaging applies even at TDOR, where the deaths involve violence, not suicide. Key rules: always include crisis resources (988, Trans Lifeline); do not describe the method or means of any individual killing; use 'died' or 'was killed,' not sensationalized language. See afsp.org/how-to-talk-safely-about-suicide
Trans Awareness Week content — educational and resource focus
Nov. 13–19: lead with the legal landscape (Skrmetti, Shield Act 2.0, executive orders), MA resources, NUSL's LGBTQ+ identity, Digital Transgender Archive, Prof. Adler's work, and the Queer Caucus. Profiles of living trans lawyers and advocates. Statistics that contextualize why legal protection matters.
Virtual access for FlexJD students
For FlexJD students in Honolulu and across the US who cannot attend the Boston ISG Museum coalition vigil: promote the 'Give Them Their Flowers' national virtual TDOR vigil (GLAAD + A4TE + Transgender Law Center + HRC + Equality Federation + Keshet, Nov. 20 annually). Check glaad.org/tdor for the 2026 registration link. This is the remote participation option.
07
Content calendar
CONTENT CALENDAR — NOVEMBER 2026
Instagram — Trans Awareness Week (Nov. 13–19)
Nov. 13 (TAW opens): What is Transgender Awareness Week? Framing, dates, and why a law school observes it. / Nov. 14: NUSL LGBTQ+ heritage — Chase Strangio '10 and Skrmetti; Prof. Adler; AALS award; '30% of our incoming class.' / Nov. 15: By the numbers — 27 killed (HRC); 93.7 per 1,000 victimization rate (Williams Institute); 34% poverty (2022 US Trans Survey). Use GLAAD social graphics. / Nov. 16: Digital Transgender Archive spotlight — 10,300+ historical materials, hosted at NEU, free and public. / Nov. 17: Resources for trans students and future lawyers — LGBTQA Center, GLAD Law Answers, MTPC IDA Network, Black and Pink MA, Trans Lifeline microgrants. / Nov. 18: The legal landscape — Skrmetti explained in plain language; MA Shield Act 2.0; what changed and what didn't. / Nov. 19: 'Tomorrow is TDOR.' Tone shift to solemnity. 27 names to remember. Crisis resources visible.
Instagram — TDOR (November 20)
November 20 — tone is solemn, not celebratory. / Morning: 'Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance. Founded in Boston in 1999 to memorialize Rita Hester.' / Midday: Read names. Simple, spare design. One name per graphic or a sequential list. Use chosen names and correct pronouns. Do not use crime-scene imagery or violence details. / Afternoon: 'In their memory, we continue.' Resources: Trans Lifeline 877-565-8860, 988 press 3, Give Them Their Flowers virtual vigil (glaad.org/tdor). / Evening: Promote the national virtual vigil 'Give Them Their Flowers' for remote FlexJD students.
Flyer (for NUSL lounge, email, social)
One-page resource guide. Two panels: 'Trans awareness resources at Northeastern' (LGBTQA Center, TGNC group, Policy 427, NUHCS, Find@Northeastern) and 'Legal support and crisis resources' (Trans Lifeline, 988, GLAD Law Answers, MTPC, TEF). TDOR founding line at bottom: 'TDOR was founded in Boston in 1999 by Gwendolyn Ann Smith to memorialize Rita Hester of Allston, MA.'
Event — optional (virtual or in-person)
Option 1: Virtual TDOR reading of names, Nov. 20, 30 min. Zoom. Partner with QC and NU LGBTQA Center. Use GLAAD framing: chosen names and pronouns; no violence details; open with land acknowledgment; close with Trans Lifeline and 988 on screen. / Option 2: Join the Boston coalition vigil (MTPC-led; confirm date/location by October with MTPC, 617-778-0519). / For both: follow GLAAD trauma-informed event guidance. Have Find@Northeastern and Trans Lifeline visible throughout.
Social media toolkits and graphics sources
GLAAD: glaad.org/transweek (free downloadable Trans Awareness Week graphics) / GLAAD: glaad.org/tdor (TDOR resource kit; free) / HRC: hrc.org/resources/epidemic-of-violence-reports (annual Epidemic of Violence reports) / A4TE: transequality.org (Advocates for Trans Equality) (Remembrance Report; downloadable content)
Hashtags
Trans Awareness Week: #TransAwarenessWeek #TAW2026 #TransRightsAreHumanRights / TDOR: #TDOR #TDOR2026 #TransDayOfRemembrance #SayTheirNames #GiveThemTheirFlowers / NUSL-specific: #NUSLQueers #NUSLPublicInterest
Fall 2026 to-do before publishing
✓ Confirm 2026 Boston TDOR vigil date and location with MTPC (617-778-0519) by October / ✓ Verify Trans Lifeline microgrants are accepting applications (translifeline.org/microgrants) / ✓ Confirm TEF transitional housing program is active (transemergencyfund.org) / ✓ Confirm GLAD Law Answers hours (currently M–F 1:30–4:30 PM) / ✓ Check for new TDOR 2026 HRC Epidemic of Violence report (released annually Nov. 20) / ✓ This litigation is active and status may have changed since publication
08
Additional resources
November 28, 1998 — Rita Hester's murder
Rita Hester, a Black transgender woman, was murdered in her apartment in Allston, Massachusetts. Her case received minimal media attention and was initially reported with dehumanizing language misgendering her. Her death became the catalyst for TDOR.
1999 — TDOR founded
Gwendolyn Ann Smith, a transgender advocate and graphic designer, organized the first Transgender Day of Remembrance in 1999 to memorialize Rita Hester. Co-founders included Nancy Nangeroni and Jahaira DeAlto. The first vigils were held in BOSTON and San Francisco.
Other Massachusetts victims honored in the founding era
Chanelle Pickett — murdered in Watertown, MA, 1995. Monique Thomas — murdered in Dorchester, MA, 1998. Both Black trans women; both cases illustrate the pattern of anti-trans violence concentrated among Black trans women that TDOR continues to address.
Academic framing (for law school audiences)
Scholars including Sadie Lamble (2008) and C. Riley Snorton and Jin Haritaworn have argued that TDOR vigils can inadvertently center white spectatorship rather than the trans women of color most affected by fatal violence. This critique is consistent with foregrounding organizations like Black and Pink MA, centering Black trans–led voices in your TDOR content, and GLAAD's guidance to pair memorial content with living trans people's contributions. Useful nuance for a law school audience that values critical engagement.
November 20 — fixed annual date
TDOR is always November 20. Trans Awareness Week is always November 13–19. GLAAD frames the full observance as approximately November 12–20. The Boston coalition vigil date and location (2025: ISG Museum, Nov. 20, 7:30 PM) should be confirmed with MTPC each fall for the current year.