Emmanuel College has become the first college to fly the transgender pride flag, in recognition of Transgender Awareness Week.

The flag, which will remain up all week, was hoisted on Monday, marking the beginning of a week which aims to raise the visibility of transgender and gender non-conforming people. The college also projected the LGBT+ flag onto the chapel building.

Transgender Awareness Week is a week-long celebration of the transgender community, culminating in the Transgender Day of Remembrance. First observed in 1999, the day commemorates victims of transphobic violence.

JCR LGBT+ Officer Katie Nelson said: “Because of the memorial aspect of Trans Awareness week, flying the flag can be seen as Emmanuel, and the university as a whole, participating in the grief experienced by the community. But it is also an important statement of solidarity with transgender people who face such adversity in this political climate.

“The reception from students and staff has been overwhelmingly positive – I’ve seen people taking pictures of the lights.

“I hope that other colleges will do the same so that Trans Awareness Week receives parity in its visibility in Cambridge as LGBT history month in February.”

Although more colleges have flown LGBT+ flags in recent years, some colleges’ strict constitutions restrict this.

The Divinity Faculty are celebrating Transgender Awareness Week with a series of lunchtime talks open to all students, with speakers including Christina Beardsley, former England Trustee for Transgender people