Honoring Transgender Day of Remembrance

The City of Boulder is committed to celebrating and ensuring the fair treatment of all community members, including our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) residents, workers and visitors.

Transgender people in Boulder have long been and continue to be valued and important members of our community.

Transgender Day of Remembrance is an annual observance on November 20 that honors the memory of the transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence.

The city welcomes and embraces our transgender community members and will continue to uphold our shared values of belonging, inclusion, and equality by creating an inclusive community and not tolerating acts of violence or discrimination against transgender people. Learn more on the city’s website.

Transgender people are often discriminated against in the areas of housing, employment, and healthcare. Social stigma, a lack of comprehensive protections, erasure, and inadequate welcoming spaces limits this community's ability to fully express themselves, access services, and hold equal rights under law.

The Human Rights Ordinance exists to protect against discrimination in Boulder and assist people who have been discriminated against in three areas, including:

• Housing
• Employment
• Public accommodation in places such as stores, restaurants, health clubs and movie theaters

Within these areas, the ordinance prohibits discrimination based on ancestry, color, creed, gender variance, genetic characteristics, immigration status, marital status, mental disability, national origin, physical disability, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation and source of income. In housing, it also prohibits discrimination based on custody of a minor child, parenthood and pregnancy. In employment, it also prohibits discrimination based on age, specifically 40 and older.

City Council enacted the Human Rights Ordinance in 1972 to create prompt, local protection and for classes not protected at the state or federal levels, such as sexual orientation, gender variance and genetic characteristics.

If you or someone you know has been the target of discrimination within city limits, you can file a claim through the City of Boulder’s Human Rights Ordinance. These services are available in any language. Learn more on the city’s website.

Since 1994, Rocky Mountain Equality has educated, advocated and provided services, programs, and support to Boulder County's LGBTQ+ and ally communities.

Rocky Mountain Equality is hosting a Transgender Day of Remembrance & Resilience event on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Junkyard Social Club. Learn more on the Rocky Mountain Equality website.