Acknowledging Transgender Awareness Week

By Office of Communications & Marketing | Nov 13, 2025

As we reflect on Transgender Awareness Week, Downstate honors and uplifts the voices, experiences, and resilience of transgender and nonbinary individuals in our community and beyond.

For many, visibility is not simply about being seen. It is also about being safe, respected, and affirmed, and knowing that your identity will be met with dignity. We stand proudly with our transgender and nonbinary students, faculty, staff, patients, and alums, whose courage and authenticity strengthen the very heart of Downstate.

Celebrating our community matters because belonging saves lives. As both an academic medical center and a public health institution, Downstate has a profound responsibility to ensure that healthcare is inclusive, affirming, and compassionate. At UHD, our gender-affirming care provides comprehensive, respectful, and evidence-based services for transgender and gender-diverse patients, ensuring that every person receives the care they need in an environment where they are seen and valued for who they are.

The spirit of advocacy, education, and allyship is not confined to a single week. It is a daily practice and a shared promise to build a future rooted in empathy, equity, and respect. Together, we continue to advance Downstate’s mission of care, compassion, and inclusion, ensuring that everyone who walks through our doors feels a sense of belonging.

Tags: Commemorative Months