Salt Lake City Council adopts resolution recognizing Transgender Awareness Week and Transgender Day of Remembrance

Salt Lake City’s council on Tuesday adopted a joint ceremonial resolution with Mayor Mendenhall recognizing the week of November 2025 as Transgender Awareness Week and Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, as Transgender Day of Remembrance. Council member Lopez Chavez read the resolution aloud and the motion passed unanimously.

David Torrey, speaking for the Trans Coalition, accepted the resolution and said the formal recognition “changes the emotional landscape we live in.” Torrey said the gesture communicates to transgender residents that “the city they call home sees them, values them, and is willing to say so publicly.”

Dallas Rivas of the Glitter Foundation described a large Trans Day of Remembrance memorial installed at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church containing more than 330 names of people killed or who died by suicide this year, and urged residents to view the display. Rivas said the memorial and accompanying QR codes document victims’ stories and highlight the urgency of policy and community support.

The resolution is ceremonial and does not itself create new city policy. Council members who spoke in favor framed the action as a public affirmation of safety and dignity for transgender residents amid national trends of legislative and social hostility. The council presented the resolution to representatives from local advocacy organizations and invited continued partnership on education and community supports.

The council approved the resolution without amendment and there was no recorded opposition.