On a chilly November evening in Leicester, the city’s Victoria Park became a beacon of remembrance and resilience. Around 50 people gathered under the shadow of the Arch of Remembrance on November 20, 2025, for the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance walk—a solemn event dedicated to memorializing victims of transphobia-driven violence. The walk, organized by the charity Trade and the Leicestershire LGBTQ+ Centre, snaked its way through the park, along New Walk, and ended at Leicester Cathedral, where a wreath adorned with the names of lost trans individuals was laid and prayers were offered by members of the clergy, according to the Leicester Gazette.
The mood among the remembrance-goers was heavy with both grief and a simmering anger. The wounds of recent political developments were still fresh. Just seven months earlier, the UK Supreme Court had issued a ruling that redefined 'sex' under the Equality Act 2010, now exclusively recognizing what the Act calls 'biological sex.' This change excluded trans people holding Gender Recognition Certificates from being recognized as their legal sex under the Act. The ruling was met with strong condemnation from human rights experts and the LGBTQ+ community, who called it “devastating” for transgender rights in the UK.
Liv, a student at the University of Leicester, stood firm against the wind as she reflected on the significance of the gathering. “I think there's a real strength to being in the community with people,” she told the Leicester Gazette. “We’re kind of here to mark a very solemn occasion, it's only become more solemn this year because of the dizzying extent of the attacks on trans people.” Despite the adversity, Liv found hope in solidarity: “Even with all that, just coming together as a community really lifts people up. It's good to see people coming together and coming out here to lift each other up.”
For many, the walk was not just about mourning but also about protest and perseverance. “We go today with sadness, and then tomorrow with rage,” Liv said, capturing the dual emotions that charged the evening. Alaina, another participant draped in a trans pride flag, echoed this sentiment. Tearfully, she shared, “I hate it. Every year feels like a miracle, but it's a miracle built on everyone who didn’t make it. Our community is action. It’s connection. It’s something done, not just something that is—we need vocal points and we need purpose. Especially when things are grim.”
Alaina’s frustration with the April Supreme Court ruling was palpable. She referred to it as the “we want trans people to not exist ruling,” and noted, “Ten years ago I would have been surprised, and hurt, and afraid, but by this point it just feels like resignation.” She pointed out that trans people are not the only ones being scapegoated in the current climate, saying, “There are so many marginalised people here and across the world [being used as scapegoats] as authoritarianism is just increasing more and more.” Her parting words were raw and direct: “We’re just still people for God’s sakes, we’re just fucking people. Just let us be people.”
Rebecca, another marcher, emphasized the urgency of the moment. “I think it’s really important that we actually do this at this time, because times are not getting easier for trans people, they are getting harder. We need to make ourselves heard,” she said. Rebecca was also critical of how transphobia is defined and discussed in the public sphere. “It’s not for them [cisgender people] to actually define it, it’s for the people who experience it to define it, but we are not being allowed to do this. We are not allowed to articulate because we are being silenced all the time.” She highlighted the practical barriers facing the trans community, noting, “It's a 285-year-long waiting list to get a first appointment at a gender clinic in Glasgow. That’s not acceptable.”
Family support was a recurring theme as the procession moved toward the city centre. Sue, a proud mother, watched her son Samuel lead the group with the wreath. “I’m a very proud parent of Samuel, who is a transgender young man,” she said. “We do everything to support him and be there every step of the way on the journey with him.” Sue and her partner Ruth remain vigilant about the risk of hate crimes, constantly reminding Samuel to be cautious. “We’re a same-sex couple so we’re always aware of hate crimes. It’s a sober reminder today, of what can actually happen, and the lengths people will go to in terms of hatred. We shouldn’t need to be here today, people should be able to live as they want to live.”
Samuel, for his part, stressed the importance of visibility and equality. “I think the day's really important,” he said. “You know, I’ve lost trans friends to anti-trans violence and suicide. I'm out here just to let the world know that we are here. We would like to be treated as equals, and we would like to be able to receive the help we need.” He credited his family for their unwavering support: “Sue and Ruth, they’re at my side no matter what. Whenever something doesn't happen, or whenever a clinic has messed up in any way, they’re always there like: ‘no, that cannot stand, you have a duty of care, we would appreciate it if you stood up with that.’”
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic in New Jersey, another milestone for transgender rights was unfolding. On November 26, 2025, a Superior Court judge ordered King Spa in Bergen County to allow transgender customers to use facilities matching their gender identity without requiring gender-affirming surgery, as reported by NJ.com. The ruling came after Alexandra Goebert, a 35-year-old transgender woman, recounted being subjected to a two-hour interrogation by spa staff about her body, including invasive questions like whether she still had “boy parts” and “Have you changed your front?” Goebert was told she could only enter the women’s nude area if she wore special “uniform shorts”—a rule not applied to other guests—and was barred from spaces like the hot tub, with staff urging her to “think about the other guests.”
Superior Court Judge Thomas Sarlo’s consent order requires the spa to implement and post anti-discrimination policies at the front desk and at every gender-segregated entrance, explicitly banning discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. The order marks a significant step forward for transgender rights in New Jersey, reinforcing the principle that access to public accommodations cannot hinge on surgical status.
These stories, unfolding on both sides of the Atlantic, underscore the ongoing struggles and hard-won victories of transgender individuals and their allies. From the cold streets of Leicester to the courtrooms of New Jersey, the fight for dignity, equality, and recognition continues—one step, one ruling, and one act of remembrance at a time.
