Do
First, if you overhear queer- or trans-antagonistic slurs, respond immediately every time. If you're not sure who said it or you don't want to single anyone out, say something like, "I'm not sure who said that. But we do not use [those words]/[words that are meant to hurt people] here. Ever." (Thanks to Page at the Common Goodness Project for this tip.)
- Ace Inclusion Guide for High Schools, by Asexual Outreach
- Making Your Chorus Welcoming for Transgender Singers (not school-focused but still relevant for chorus teachers)
- Some Very Basic Tips for Making Higher Education More Accessible to Trans Students and Rethinking How We Talk about Gendered Bodies (PDF)
- See, however, this point on using the word "preferred" when related to names or pronouns.
- Ten ways to challenge gender stereotypes in the classroom
- Use words like "partner," "spouse," or "significant other" as generic terms instead of "boyfriend" or "wife."
- When introducing yourself at the start of the school year or to new students, include your pronouns.
- Talk about family diversity, especially with younger students.
- Be the faculty sponsor. (If you're exploring this possibility, take a look at these important questions for adults working with queer and trans young people.)
- Put the GSA's posters and stickers up in your classroom.
- A Refuge for LGBTQ+ Young People
- Supporting a Gay-Straight Alliance in Middle School
- Advocate for Inclusive & Affirming Curriculum
- Amber Myrrh Ingram: Why We Must Teach LGBTQ+ History
- GLSEN's Rainbow Library
- LGBT History Month
- LGBTQ-Inclusive Curriculum as a Path to Better Public Health
- LGBTQ high school resources from Teachers Pay Teachers
- LGBTQ middle school resources from Teachers Pay Teachers
- Making Gay History: Resources for Educators
Support LGBTQIA+ Students – Queer Visibility Curriculum Created by National Teen Board - Teaching LGBTQ History
- The Trans+ History Lesson We Never Had
- Provide information on "same-sex" sexual activity. (Why "same sex" in quotes? See R2T2's explanation of intersex.)
- Make sure that pregnancy information is gender-neutral (e.g., "teens who are pregnant," not "girls who are pregnant").
- The Our Whole Lives (OWL) curriculum offers a fantastic approach to comprehensive, age-appropriate, honest, affirming sex ed for children, youth, and adults.
- Incorporate lessons on dating violence that encompass queer and trans teens.
- R2T2's youth resources section has a bunch of sex-positive links for young people that might help you as a teacher.
- Other sex ed-related resources
- Asexuality: Information for Educators
- Being Out, Staying Safe: An STD Prevention Curriculum for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Queer Teens (PDF), by Elizabeth Schroeder and Eva S. Goldfarb.
- Full Spectrum: Educators' Guide to Implementing LGBTQ+ Inclusive Sex Ed (PDF)
- Gender, Sexuality, & Inclusive Sex Education (PDF)
- Inclusive Sexual Health Education for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender,
- "Queer Sex Ed" – The Resources
- Queer Sex Ed Community Curriculum
- Sex Ed For LGBTQ Youth - Five Ways To Make Sex Ed More Queer Inclusive! (YouTube)
- Stock your classroom with banned books, including those with LGBTQA+/SGL content. You'll find some great book suggestions in the adult resources and youth resources sections.
- Put a Philadelphia pride flag, Quasar flag, or other LGBTQA+/SGL posters, signs, or stickers on your classroom door, on a bulletin board outside or inside your classroom, on a whiteboard or blackboard, on the wall, or any other place that might be appropriate.
- You can also look into "it's safe to be you around me" and other similarly messaged stickers/posters that can help especially elementary and middle school students feel safer around their teachers. There are also inclusion posters that make the strong statements that middle school/high school students would appreciate and feel supported by.
- Here are some examples:
- Stickers
- Posters
- More posters
- Yet more posters
- Mugs
- Keychains and lanyards
- You get the idea….
- Here are some examples:
- Have a zero-tolerance policy for bullying.
- Be a safe classroom where your students can come during lunch and recess.
- I acknowledge, however, that this may be cutting into some of the only "free" time you have during the day.
- Or, like me, you may be an introvert who needs some time to decrompress. So if that wouldn't work for you, pick something else to do.
Don't
- Yes, this is a website focused mostly on older kids. But still, this point is incredibly important.
- Need alternatives? Try lining kids up by birthday months, sock color, pants length, pizza vs. hot dogs, cats vs. dogs, etc. There are a million options out there!
- Ask your students for their ideas of ways to line up. Let them have some fun with this.
- Never, ever talk to children about "girl toys," "boy clothes," "girl colors," or "boy games."
- Never, ever say, "Boys will be boys."
