Trans Issues Don’t Stop at the US Border
Every year on November 20, we observe Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR) to honour the lives lost to transphobic violence. Right now, much of the conversation focuses on the US, with good reason. Constant backlash, legislative restrictions and mis- and disinformation coming from the US are hard to ignore and are absolutely devastating for the trans and non-binary community, both from within the US and for those witnessing from outside.
The US is seeing a dangerous pattern unfold, with so far 51 lives lost to transphobic violence, nearly double last year’s figures, and the introduction of 1,005 bills in 2025 alone that seek to block trans people from receiving basic healthcare, education, legal recognition and the right to publicly exist. While 382 of those bills have failed, 122 have passed and 501 are still under consideration. It is undeniable that the US is becoming an incredibly dangerous place for trans people to live, especially for Black trans women who are disproportionately affected by transphobic violence worldwide.
While these realities are deeply disturbing, it’s important not to think of them as uniquely American. Transphobic violence happens everywhere, including here in Canada, and is unfortunately on the rise, fueled by the same disinformation we are seeing in the US.
It’s tempting to see Canada as safer because there are fewer recorded deaths, with two lives lost this year - Alice Carrier (she/her) in Montreal and Kira Salim (they/them) in Vancouver - but the reality is likely far more complex. Canada does not systematically collect data on trans deaths, and families, police and media often misclassify or misgender victims. At TransFocus, we personally know of trans people who have died in 2025 who are not officially counted, highlighting that the scale of this problem is uncertain and could be much higher than we realize.
Additionally, persistent systemic inequities are keeping many trans residents of Canada at risk of harm. In Canada, trans people are four times more likely to experience homelessness or housing insecurity than cisgender people (TransPulse Canada 2020), nearly half of trans people have unmet healthcare needs (TransPulse Canada 2020), and most heartbreakingly, trans people are at significantly higher risk of mental health challenges, with 1 in 3 trans people having considered suicide (TransPulse Canada 2020). With these systemic issues combined with feelings of isolation and fear of increasingly violent anti-trans rhetoric, many trans people feel completely unable to carry on.
With trans people facing so much systematically, having allies show up in everyday life is essential. If you’re not sure where to start, here are some simple ways you can be an ally to trans and non-binary people:
Stay informed and speak up.
Being an ally means keeping up with the issues trans people face, including legislative changes that affect their lives. When you see misinformation or harmful stereotypes shared in your family or friendship circles, gently correct it or share what you’ve learned. Even small conversations can help challenge transphobia and create safer spaces for everyone.
A simple way to stay informed is by following trans and 2SLGBTQIA+ led sources, such as Erin in the Morning for the US, and Egale Canada for issues facing trans people in Canada. Keeping up with the issues facing trans people helps you understand what’s happening in the community and makes it easier to speak up when you see misinformation.
Practice sharing your pronouns.
It might seem small, but getting comfortable with sharing your pronouns with others is a really meaningful act of allyship. By including them in introductions, you normalize the practice, make space for others to share theirs and signal to trans and non-binary people that you’re someone who is safe to be around without spotlighting them. The goal isn’t to pressure anyone into sharing their pronouns, but to model inclusivity by sharing your own.
Address mistakes.
Mistakes happen! If you use the wrong name or pronoun, the best thing to do is to apologize briefly, correct yourself, and keep going. It’s tempting to want to over-apologize, but this tends to draw more attention to the mistake and a big apology can sometimes make things more uncomfortable for the trans person than the mistake itself. If the trans person wants to talk about it, be open to that, but otherwise it’s best to quickly apologize and move on.
If you hear someone else making a mistake, a gentle correction in the moment can be helpful - “are you talking about Ben? I think you meant they.” Or, if you think it’s necessary to address further, taking someone to the side to explain why something wasn’t right and offer to help or share your own learning journey can encourage the other person to keep learning without getting defensive.
Respect the privacy of trans people.
It’s natural to feel curious about aspects of a trans person’s life, but questions about someone’s body, medical history, romantic life or experiences before transitioning are deeply personal and can be uncomfortable or even upsetting to discuss. If a trans person wants to share those things, let them do so in their own time, and if they choose not to, it’s important to respect that. If a trans person does share private information with you, make sure to keep that information confidential.
Transgender Day of Remembrance is absolutely a time to mourn, but it’s also a time to work towards changing things for the better. As we honour those whose lives were cut far too short, we can commit to building a world where trans people are not just remembered, but recognized, protected, celebrated and ultimately, free to live and thrive.
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Each year, we hold Transgender Day of Remembrance sessions that combine learning with storytelling, helping people connect more deeply to the human side of this work. These conversations remind us that remembrance is not only about loss, but also about care, courage and the ongoing work of building spaces where trans people can thrive.
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