At KCLSU, this Wednesday 13 November marks the beginning of a rich week of workshops, talks, and gatherings around Trans Awareness Week. This important commemoration of how far we have come in establishing transgender rights, but also the long journey that still awaits us towards equality. We encourage you to take a look at the many events we have planned for you this week!

This year’s theme in particular asks us to honour the lives and efforts of the pioneers of international transgender and gender non-conforming communities. The history of transgender rights is inextricably tied to the history of human rights: it allows us to reflect on crucial aspects of our lives, on gender, identity, and self-determination.

However, trans pioneers are often overlooked in our history pages. There has been an effort to recuperate some core ancient figures as precursors of trans experiences: some historians believe that Joan of Arc, or the failed Roman Emperor Elagabalus, can be retrospectively identified as trans.

Other names may be more familiar to you because of their historical proximity: Lili Elbe, whose life was fictionalized in the movie ‘The Danish Girl’, or Michael Dillon, who wrote about his experience navigating his transgender identity in an unprecedented book: ‘Self: A Study in Endocrinology and Ethics’.

While recuperating this rich and varied history is fundamental, and it will surely give you some profound insight into the progress of transgender rights, it is also important to remember that voices have also been lost in the process.

Many people have been silenced in their quest for a transgender identity, and we have surely lost many important contributions as a result of discrimination. So, as we rightfully honour pioneers from the past who have made a name for themselves in their courageous fight for transgender lives, we can also think of all those who have gone unnamed, and forgotten, but that have nevertheless paved the way to recognition and equality.

Of these many unknown pioneers, you might want to pay attention to a person who, while nameless, has left us the clue of a letter: P. P is at the centre of the P v S and Cornwall County Council trial, a foundational case for transgender rights, happening between 1994 and 1996. P sued her employers, having been fired after disclosing to them that she was undergoing gender reassignment.

This case escalated from the English Employment Tribunal to the European Court of Justice and finally succeeded in extending the Sex Discrimination Act to protect transsexual people in their employment. This was an absolute first-in-case law, and the more current Equality Act 2010 is strongly connected to this case. This is one of those stories that may go unnoticed, sitting in a niche section of legal studies with an unnamed protagonist.

Yet, the courage of this trans woman, who went at lengths to have her rights recognized not only for herself but for any trans person at risk of losing their post for discrimination, has offered an invaluable tool to anyone seeking justice under British and European Law.

We hope that this piece of history can be an inspiring tool for analysing the past, in the hopes of building a better world for the future. If you are looking for external resources, we can redirect you to LGBT Switchboard, a phone line (also offering instant messaging and email) for queer and LGBTQIA+ people to go over any questions you might have on gender identity.

You can also check out Gendered Intelligence, a charity that aims to support Trans people through various activities and consultations. We want you to feel welcome at KCLSU this Trans Awareness Week, and we hope to see you at one of our events!