The third edition of Trans+ History Week (4-10 May) arrives with a bold public-facing initiative titled Reflections. This national awareness push will place striking visuals and messages in transit hubs, shopping centres and entertainment venues to highlight the long and often overlooked history of trans+ (transgender, non-binary, gender-diverse and intersex people). Organisers say the campaign aims to counter hostile narratives and reclaim visibility for communities whose stories have too often been sidelined.
Across the programme, the campaign will appear in locations including Liverpool Central Station, Manchester’s Hotel Football, Brighton’s Churchill Square, Newcastle Haymarket, London’s Boxpark Wembley and Edinburgh Towers. The posters feature statements such as “In the reflections of the past, we see our strength” and “Our history runs deeper than most realise,” designed to prompt curiosity and to stress that trans+ presence is longstanding and persistent. The campaign is launched amid surveys showing that 99% of trans+ people report harm to their mental health from UK media coverage of Trans+ stories, underlining the urgency of more accurate and affirming public representation.
Creative work and collaborative storytelling
One of the initiative’s cornerstones is a new series of original pieces produced by 21 trans+ creatives in partnership with QueerAF. These contributors will author, illustrate and present stories throughout the week, placing lived experience at the heart of the narrative. The project complements the return of the Trans+ History Week workbook, now in its third edition, which aims to support educators, community groups and individuals in exploring and teaching the history and lives of trans+ people.
Flagship live events in london
London will host two headline events during the week that mix celebration, conversation and fundraising. On Trans+ History Day (6 May), organisers will record a live episode of the QueerAF podcast, hosted by Lars Fellows of I Kissed A Boy. The session will feature former Big Brother contestants Nadia Almada and Zelah Glasson, followed by a panel on storytelling with voices including Ki Griffin, Rebecca Jane Morgan, HRH Aphrodite I and Alexandra Parmar-Yee. Tickets are available via Outsavvy. Then, on 8 May, a comedy night and fundraiser will present an all-trans+ line-up with performers such as Don One and Alex Franklin, again with tickets sold through Outsavvy.
Why this matters now
The timing of the week is significant: it follows a landmark UK Supreme Court ruling and arrives as public policy debates intensify. Organisers note that the campaign comes a year after that ruling and just weeks before MPs are due to scrutinise the EHRC’s revised Code of Practice in response to the For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers case. Those legal and regulatory shifts have made public education and community visibility especially pressing, according to advocates who fear that political and media hostility can erase nuance and endanger rights.
Political backing and community support
Political support has been visible: last year, 69 MPs signed an Early Day Motion welcoming Trans+ History Week, a motion tabled in 2026 by Labour MP Kate Osborne. Osborne said the week provides a chance to remember the contributions of trans+ people and to argue for their dignity and justice in the present day. For organisers, that kind of cross-party recognition helps amplify the campaign’s reach and protects space for cultural celebration amid contested public discussions.
Looking ahead
Marty Davies, founder and director of Trans+ History Week, summarised the event’s purpose: “Trans+ history runs deep, and it runs through everything,” he said, invoking an image of endurance through change. The Reflections campaign, the creative output with QueerAF, and the live events are intended to do more than mark a week on the calendar; they aim to create resources, foster connections and sustain advocacy long after the posters come down. For those wanting to learn more or support the initiative, further information is available at transhistoryweek.com.