For example, you can designate your classroom a "safe zone" through stickers or posters on your classroom door. This lets students and/or families know that you are open and strive to be supportive. You do not need to be an expert in LGBTQIA+ issues or gender diversity to take this step, but you do need to make a commitment to your continued learning and to challenge anti-LGBTQ language or harassment. Remember also that signs are important to other school staff and can be a first step in building supportive relationships and networks. There may not be other contexts within which discussions of LGBTQIA+ issues take place, so it can be useful to signal that they matter to you.

This is often the answer to the question "where do I start"?  Educators and students find strength, shared purpose, and a sense of community when they come together. They also increase their power to identify and call for changes to school climate and inequalities that affect the lives and learning of children. Such organizations have been associated with reductions in discrimination, raising awareness about student well-being, and fostering safe and affirming school environments. Participating in such a group may provide you with the opportunity to engage in work that directly impacts LGBTQIA+ students via a number of different avenues, including curricular change. This step is also an answer to the question that many allies ask" "how do I address resistance or overcome fear?" Isolation and silence breed injustice, while strength and commitment can be enhanced through organizing and through community.

Do not allow homophobic or transphobic language from children or adults. Children often report that they hear this sort of language often. When teachers pretend not to hear it, they signal its acceptability. As an educator, you need to draw a line that signals what is acceptable and unacceptable in the communities in which you take part. This work happens at the individual and systems levels. Stay abreast of developments in inclusive language, be mindful and responsive to others' needs and requests regarding language, but most of all: do not allow others to use language to harm children. 
One example of an activity guide on this topic from Learning for Justice

We fully support the integration of LGBTQIA+ representation, history, literature, concepts, and supports into B-12 curriculum. Many of the resources on this page were selected to support you in your efforts to explore this dimension of your teaching.  GLSEN provides a host of resources for LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum but many other valuable sources of curriculum, literature, and instructional guidelines are shared here. Remember that representation through literature and media are only a first step. Learn more about the concepts and skills that children must understand and develop in order to thrive in an inclusive world. Then consider what tools are necessary for you and your students to support efforts toward equity and justice. These will have different meanings depending on the age, grade, and content areas you teach. It will also require you to continue to learn and reflect on your beliefs, practices, and curriculum.

Often, teachers feel a sense of reluctance to speak out or to integrate LGBTQIA+ content into their curricula because they feel they must first become knowledgeable experts. This is absolutely not the case - it is more important (and more realistic) for you to commit to a journey of learning than to an outcome of expertise. So you do not need to seek professional development before you act. However, you do have a responsibility to further develop your knowledge and skills. Participate in professional development and school efforts to address bullying and bias, and support inclusion and diversity. Workshops and professional development can help to ensure that your school is inclusive, safe, and affirming for LGBTQIA+ youth. Effective professional development can help to educate staff on how to handle harassment and bullying, and it can provide a place to share resources and best practices to ensure safe and respectful schools and a sense of community and support. Numerous options are available - in person, virtually, and through pre-recorded webinars/podcasts/interviews. If you are not sure where to start, begin by exploring some of the resources on this page.

However you refer to the process of identity sharing for LGBTQIA+ people, it is still a relevant and critical one, both in schools and in society at large. Ignorance, misperception, bias, and bigotry thrive in silence. However, coming out is a highly personal process and, for some, a privilege in a society where attempts to silence and criminalize LGBTQIA+ identities in the education system have recently been amplified.

Is it coming out? Or inviting in? Is it essential for teachers to be out? How do we respond to students who come out? These are obviously complex questions that cannot be fully addressed here. The resources below portray some of the benefits of coming out in your role as an educator, as well as the roles teachers can take in supporting students when they come out in school. However, coming out is your process, your decision, and it occurs on your timeline. It is also a decision that is made in context, and we know that these contexts can range from supportive to threatening. Determine what is best for you, and engage to co-determine what is right for each of your students. Ideally, coming out will cease to be a stressful event and evolve into a key step in strengthening community, supports, and your identity development, both personally and professionally.

Lastly, we acknowledge that coming out is a privilege, and it is also viewed as a colonial phenomenon. In many indigenous and colonized cultures, it is acceptance and celebration that are the norm, and this has been true for centuries. Coming out can be viewed as a response to the oppression and shame that were introduced by colonizers, and it may be an irrelevant concept where LGBTQIA+, Indigiqueer, and two-spirit people continue to be welcomed and celebrated (Edmonton Spirit Society, 2022).

Resources on students coming out

The HRC Coming Out Center

GLSEN - When a student comes out to you today....or any day!

HRC - Recorded messages for people who are coming out

A Playlist of Coming Out Stories from the HRC YouTube Channel

Folxhealth.com Coming Out Stories - not specifically about school but still relevant

Resources on teachers coming out at school

GLSEN Stories - Coming out as a LGBTQ Elementary Teacher

Healthline - Out LGBT+ Teachers Are Essential for the Survival of LGBT+ Kids

Learning for Justice - Out at Last

This Learning for Justice article discusses how school policies that protect LGBT educators pave the way for more honest teacher-student relationships.

TFA - I See Me: Representation of LGBTQ+ Teachers in the Classroom

National Coming Out Day - October 11th

From the HRC: We first observed National Coming Out Day on October 11, 1988, on the anniversary of the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights as a reminder that one of our most basic tools is the power of coming out. If you are out, congratulations! If you are in the process, faculty and staff are here to support you. And if you are not out, we acknowledge that our campuses are not a safe place for every LGBTQ+ individual, and we are committed to changing that.

Considerations when coming out (summarized from Folxhealth)

1) Assess the risk and trust yourself - prioritize your safety. Coming out is not linear, and no one's timeline is the same. Your identities are yours to define and disclose.

2) Coming up with a plan can help manage the complex emotions. How and to whom do you want to start? What limitations might you want to place on the extent of public sharing?

3) Find allies - it can be a tremendous help to know someone is on your side. They can also help in educating and correcting others so that responsibility does not fall solely on you.

4) If you are changing/claiming pronouns, consider what requests you need to make in order to others to use them. This might involve updating an ID, or online records, for instance. It might also involve conveying your pronouns to those who you expect to use them. This is an area where people sometimes experience resistance when trying to come out. Be prepared for this and find the allies who will stand with you.

5) When you feel safe, you might choose to wear affirming clothes or accessories. Choosing these can be a source of fun during a stressful time.

6) Note that you will begin setting expectations about others' responses to your coming out during this time. Think about how you will respond when you need to correct people, identify offensive behavior, and/or maintain your momentum, growth, and pride. We can't control others but we do have to demonstrate our expectations and limits as part of our role as educators.

7) Navigating interpersonal dynamics can be tricky. Advocate for and support yourself by leaning into your support network and perhaps finding an affirming therapist.

In this section you will find a variety of resources related to gender, identity development, diversity, and the experiences and needs of gender diverse people - including children in school.

Building knowledge

PBS - Map of Gender Diverse Cultures

While this tool has been criticized as having a colonial lens, it can serve as a useful starting point.

 Let's Talk About Non-Binary - Learning for Justice

 Gender Spectrum - Understanding Gender

 Transgender People, Gender Identity and... - A multilingual introductory brochure

 Schools In Transition: Guide for Supporting Trans Students in K-12 Schools

 NEPC Policy Brief - Transgender Students and Policy in K-12 Public schools

 Federal LGBTQ+ Education Resources

 Pronoun Fact Sheet Shared by APA

 Fact Sheet On Non-Binary Gender Identities Shared by APA

 How do you ask about pronouns? YouTube video from True Colors United

 Resources For Educators - Trans Youth Equality Foundation

Resources and PD for and about Native American Two Spirit People

In addition to those below, you can find webinars on these topics on the Indian Health Service website:

https://www.ihs.gov/lgbt/trainings/

Two Spirit Identity - Then and Now

One-hour prerecorded webinar hosted in part by the UNM Center for Rural Community Behavioral Health

Feeling Invisible: Historical Trauma: Discrimination, Micro-Aggression, and Stereotypes in Native LGBTQ Communities

One hour webinar.This may contain some technical issues with the video portion. Regardless, the slides are posted below.

Slides

Teaching skills and curriculum resources

Create a Safe, Supportive and Affirming Classroom for Gender Diverse Students

The resource posted below is a year-long curriculum guide for K-5 teachers. We purchased this from Gender Inclusive Classrooms for your use and it is attached below.

Description from the authors:
This curriculum is specifically written for social justice-oriented K-5 teachers who are familiar with supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ and non-binary students. It is written for teachers 1 who would like to know more in order to do better. It is written for educators who feel they need to do more but aren’t sure where to start, when to do it, or what to say. This curriculum guide is also written for math coaches, school counselors, reading specialists, P.E. teachers, and anyone who is interested in creating a more gender inclusive learning environment. This works best when all adults in the school are committed to the wellbeing of every student

 Gender Inclusive Classrooms Year-Long Curriculum Guide 2021-22.pdf 

 Towards a More Inclusive Classroom - Re...g across grade levels and content areas

 Developing Inclusive and Affirming Curriculum for All Students

 APA Guide for Supporting Trans and Gender Diverse Students - note that this was not designed specifically with educators in mind

 Toolkit for "Being There for Nonbinary Youth"

 Gender Inclusive Classrooms Website

 Padlet - LGBTQ K-12 Curriculum Share

 K-5 Child-Friendly LGBTQ+ Definitions: English Version

 K-5 2SLGBTQIAP+ Documento de referencia de vocabulario

Classroom materials and activities

National Education Association - A Checklist to Support LGBTQ+ Students During Distance Learning

LGBT-focused lesson plans and videos from PBS

Garden State Equality - Lesson Plans Across the Curriculum

These selected plans were written by educators with a focus on comprehensive and authentic ways to engage with gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and marginalized identities across multiple content areas. They are viewable on this site or downloadable, and while they are typically listed as being  for a particular grade level, they are adaptable. Don’t let the grade level or the specific content area dissuade you from modifying the content!

K-5 Child-Friendly LGBTQ+ Definitions: English Version

K-5 2SLGBTQIAP+ Documento de referencia de vocabulario

Gender & Sexualities Alliances (or GSAs for short), are student-run organizations that unite LGBTQ+ and allied youth to build community and organize around issues impacting them in their schools and communities. GSAs have evolved beyond their traditional role to serve as safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth in middle schools and high schools and have emerged as vehicles for deep social change related to racial, gender, and educational justice. GSAs have expanded to the elementary school level, where they are often called Rainbow Clubs.

A growing body of research confirms that the presence of a GSA has a positive and lasting effect on student health, wellness, and academic performance. It can also protect students from harassment based on sexual orientation or gender identity and improve school climates for all students in the long-term.

GSAs are not just for LGBT+ teachers. Starting or supporting a GSA

There are 3 different types of GSAs—all of which can directly impact LGBTQ+ youth. Every GSA can create its own mission and goals to meet the needs of its members and the unique climate of their school.

• Social GSAs — Students meet and connect with other trans and queer students on campus. 
• Support GSAs — Students work to create safe spaces and talk about the various issues they face in school or their broader communities, such as discrimination from teachers or school administrators
• Activist GSAs — Students take a leadership role to improve school climate through campaigns and events that raise awareness and change policies or practices in their schools.

Note - This description has been adapted from GSANetwork

How do I start a GSA? 

Elementary Resources 

How To Start and Sustain a Rainbow Club K-5 - Gender Inclusive Schools 

 How To Start and Sustain a Rainbow Club K-5.pdf  

 How to start a Rainbow Club - Gender Inclusive Classrooms 

Resources for all levels 

GLSEN Resources 

 Introductory Resource from GLSEN on Starting GSAs

 All GLSEN GSA Resources 

GSA Advisor Handbook and Resource Packet - published by GSA Network 

 2021-2022-Annual-Resource.pdf 

 GSA Advisor-Handbook-2020.pdf

ACLU resources 

 ACLU Tips on Starting a GSA from 2011  

Sample tools for running a GSA 

 Sample calendar with events a GSA could align with or plan around

 Outskatoon GSA Guide: A Weekly Guide of Activities for Gay Straight Alliances 

Tools for building discussion 

 Talking About Advertising

 Identity Questions 

 Identity in Film 

 Did I remind myself today that... 

 Five Questions AlLIES CAN ASK.....pdf

 Are we open to having the conversations we need_.pdf 

 org gaming.pdf

 LGBTQ+ Narratives in Music Videos 

 Jamboard Sample 

Resources on GSA activism 

 How GSA members can unite around social justice issues 

Materials - please share yours and we will be happy to post them here! 

 GSA Poster small.pdf

Follow.....

 Follow the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance on Instagram 

 Illinois Network of GSAs 

Managing an inclusive classroom 

Chrome extension to Counteract Google Classroom Deadnaming 

How Google Classroom Erases Trans Students 

LGBTQIA+ curriculum 

 Developing Inclusive and Affirming Curriculum for All Students 

 Towards a More Inclusive Classroom - Re...g across grade levels and content areas 

 Padlet - LGBTQ K-12 Curriculum Share 

Stonewall - Creating LGBTQ+ Inclusive Curriculum 

 stw_pearson_creating_an_inclusive_primary_curriculum_2022_1_-_march.pdf_

Classroom materials and activities 

Teaching Science 

Gender Inclusive Biology 

From their site - This website aims to curate resources and connect science educators, students, learners of all types, parents, guardians, and everyone involved in supporting and learning to grow a more inclusive biology curriculum. 

Pride in Stem 

From their site - Pride in STEM is a charity run by an independent group of LGBTQIA+ scientists & engineers from around the world. Proud of who we are and what we do. We aim to showcase and support all LGBTQIA+ people in STEM fields. The site includes resources for LGBT+ teaching in STEM. 

The resources below were selected to help you better understand the present landscape of legislative attacks on LGBT+ people. Note that data changes quickly and will likely be out of date by the time you explore these resources. However, the sources are worth exploring and updates will likely be found there.

 Bookriot.com - IS IT FAKE NEWS? HOW TO EVALUATE NEWS SITES YOU’RE READING

Data changes quickly and will likely be out of date by the time you explore these resources. However, the sources are worth exploring and updates will likely be found there.

 UNIDOS US - “Don’t Say Gay” Bill Takes Aim at LGBTQ+ Youth
 
 HRC - Myths and Facts: Battling Disinformation About Transgender Rights
 
 ASCD Blog - Supporting LGBT Students in the "Don't Say Gay" Era
 
 CNN Report with Data on Legislation up to 2021
 
 Them: Here’s All the Anti-Trans Legislation That Moved Forward This Week
 
 How to Debunk Anti-Gay Myths - Southern Poverty Law Center
 
 Politifact - Why recent "grooming" accusations are not based in fact

These resources support the teaching of LGBTQ+ history to all students. They also include some resources related to the concept of pride and Pride Month.

Pride Month

Talking to young children about Pride

Resource from Children's Library Lady

CNN - Introduction to Pride
Published in 2022

Visual History of New York City's Pride
This was published by Google in 2022 and focuses on the first fifteen years of Pride in NYC.

LGBTQ+ history

Illinois Civics Hub and information about the IL Inclusive Curriculum Law

Resources on Teaching LGBTQ+ History

NCSS Position Statement: Contextualizing LGBT+ History within the Social Studies Curriculum
Notes from the NCSS website: NCSS fully recognizes and supports the civic, ethical, and moral imperatives to advance a more historically accurate, complete, and empowering social studies curriculum that contextualizes LGBT+ history—and the histories of other marginalized cultural groups. The social, cultural, and political implications of sidelining, omitting and/or misrepresenting certain cultural groups are damaging and antithetical to a true democratic education rooted in our collective code of ethics to “do no harm.”

View the position statement here

CA Content Literacy Inquiry and Citizenship (CLIC) Statewide Project - Teaching LGBT History: An Educator’s Guide

TeachingLGBTHistoryEducatorsGuide_14Feb2019.pdf

Resources to build knowledge and understanding

PBS - History of the word "gay"
The word “GAY” has a long history in the English language, but why did “GAY” stop meaning “happy” and start referring “same sex relationships?” Watch this episode of Origin of Everything to find out.

CNN - LGBTQ History Fact Facts
A brief timeline published for LGBT History Month in 2021.

Queer history through the eyes of the Chicago Reader
A reflection on how LGBTQ+ issues, subjects, and writers have appeared on the paper’s pages over the last five decades.

Making Gay History Podcast
From their website: Making Gay History (MGH) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that addresses the absence of substantive, in-depth LGBTQ-inclusive American history from the public discourse and the classroom by providing a window into that history through the stories of the people who helped a despised minority take its rightful place in society as full and equal citizens. In so doing, MGH aims to encourage connection, pride, and solidarity within the LGBTQ community and to provide an entry point for both allies and the general public to its largely hidden history.

Learn more and listen here

Stonewall National Monument - National Parks Service site

NPS Stonewall site

Series about Stonewall begins with this episode - Stonewall: Prelude to a Riot

Queer America podcast episode - Incorporating LGBTQ History in your Classroom

From their website: From the Gold Rush to the Cold War, Historian Daniel Hurewitz offers strategies for integrating LGBTQ History into your curriculum. He shares lesson examples from U.S. history and insights from educators already teaching queer history in their classrooms.

Queer America podcast episode - LGBTQ History in Public Schools

From their website: Lessons from the classroom—from high stakes testing to critical thinking skills—professor Emily Hobson & public school teacher Felicia Perez discuss their experiences and practical advice to help you incorporate LGBTQ History.

Queer Portraits in History

This website includes brief portraits of many LGBTQ+ historical figures.

OUT at CHM - Chicago History Museum Facebook Page

This page is not updated regularly but it does contain information on past events and some useful links. OUT at CHM also publishes a newsletter to which you can subscribe.

Online Archives of the San Francisco GLBT History Museum

You can access the digital collections at this museum at the link above.

Documenting Lesbian Lives: Narrators
While the resources are not accessible to non-students, this Smith College page can be a good place to start for biographical information about these individuals and links to help with follow-up.

A Queer Eye on Art History
Published by Google Arts & Culture in 2022.

Interviews posted by Gerber-Hart Library

The link will take you to an ongoing collection of contemporary interviews related to LGBTQ culture and history.

Founded in 1981, Gerber/Hart’s collections focus on the culture and history of LGBTQ peoples and additional marginalized sexual and gender minorities in Chicago and the Midwest. Open to all, Gerber/Hart serves these communities by collecting, preserving, and making accessible collection items of individuals, organizations, and businesses, as well as publicly distributed items. Additionally, Gerber/Hart provides programming and exhibitions related to items in its collections and on other topics in LGBTQ history and culture.

Teaching tools

Unheard Voices, an oral history/curriculum project helping educators integrate (LGBT) history in grades 6-12

These include interview recordings, downloadable transcripts, and lessons/classroom materials as well. Visit the website for the actual interviews, but we have uploaded the transcripts, backgrounders, and lessons here in case they become unavailable later.

UV All Transcripts.pdf

UV Lessons.pdf

UV All Backgrounders.pdf

LGBT History Month Website - FYI October is LGBT History Month

This site includes profiles on hundreds of LGBT+ icons, including bio pages. It also includes a searchable index, posters, and other materials.

LGBTQ History Archives of the National Museum of American History

From the museum website: Our collections span centuries and include objects related to protest and politics, medicine and psychology, love and marriage, sports and entertainment, and more. Sometimes, curators and archivists collected objects for a specific reason that later turned out to have LGBTQ+ connections. For example, the numismatics collection has coins that were collected decades ago with the likenesses of emperors and royalty, such as Queen Christina of Sweden, who expressed same-sex attraction. Identities, terms, and definitions related to sexual orientation and gender identity have been in flux as long as there have been humans. The museum is continually adding to and mining our existing resources in order to better understand evolving and overlapping identities

GLSEN LGBT+ history resources and information
From their website: For all of us, learning an LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum can help us better understand our world and our differences. For LGBTQ students in particular, it can mean feeling safer at school and hearing homophobic and transphobic remarks less frequently, according to GLSEN research. That's why we're sharing the resources below, from an interactive timeline and coloring book to many other classroom resources.

LGBTQ History Lesson Plans from OneArchives

From their website: ONE Archives Foundation has partnered with the UCLA History-Geography Project to host Professional Learning Symposiums and provide LGBTQ history lesson plans for educators at no cost. The lesson plans comply with California’s FAIR Education Act, which requires California K–12 schools to integrate fair, accurate, inclusive and respectful representations of the LGBTQ community and people with disabilities into their social studies and history classes. You can both read and download the lesson plans.

Displaying a Pride flag (or creating some other inclusive display) can send an important message at your school While symbols are important, they do change to reflect a changing world. Note that the Pride flag has evolved over the years to recognize more of the LGBTQ+ community. Many groups have created their own pride flags to represent their unique identities, so there are many different flags now! Memorizing every version of the Pride flag is not quite the point. What’s really important is learning about and respecting what they mean to the people they represent. As an educator, your role is to communicate the idea that flags are important symbols that help people feel included and seen. Displaying a flag in your classroom can also signal your support. Below are some resources related to displaying pride flags and other inclusive symbols at school.  

Below is one example of a guide to the various LGBT+ flags and the meanings behind their design.  

The Advocate Complete Guide to Queer Pride Flags 

Smithsonian - Long-Lost Fragment of First Rainbow Pride Flag Resurfaces After Four Decades 

Them - Pride Flag History 

Concerns about resistance from parents/caregivers or others at one's school are very common amongst future teachers. Click on the page below for more information on this topic and for resources to help you envision your role beyond the fear you might be experiencing and the resistance that concerns you now.

Reflect on your concerns about resistance 

Resistance and pushback are topics that frequently come up when we discuss LGBTQIA+ inclusion and supports. Candidates are often concerned about what will happen if they actively support LGBTQIA+ students and families in their schools and careers. 

Some of these concerns are understandably based in anxiety about the unknown. What will my school be like? Will I be supported? Will others stand up for me? There are a lot of "what ifs" when you are preparing to enter the world of professional teaching. Students are frequently concerned about pushback from parents and caregivers. These are understandable and legitimate concerns - however, we recommend that fears do not drive your decision-making as an educator. Many of these fears may be unfounded - in fact, the lesbian and gay teachers who have spoken with our students in the past have stated that sharing their truths has been incredibly freeing and empowering. The key, however, was that they sought that support and built relationships with staff and students and did not wait for the support to appear before speaking up or acting. Commit to learning more, asking questions, and making connections with others - the active search for knowledge, experience and relationships are often the key to action. Fear, anxiety, and inaction breed injustice. We would argue that the time to consider how to lay the path for LGBTQIA+ advocacy is not once you are in your classroom, but NOW. You should begin by doing the following: 

1. Develop and be prepared to articulate your vision of social justice
2. Learn about relevant policies and best practices
3. Explore resources and professional development so that you can make intentional and responsive instructional decisions
4. Take advantage of interactions with faculty, teachers, and administrators to ask questions about relevant policies, supports, and opportunities within schools
5. Prepare yourself with information, resources, and to fulfill the roles of a teacher supporting LGBTQIA+ social justice, referring to the steps and responsibilities on the previous page.

Once you are interviewing for positions or entering the field, take advantage of the time you have with your school principal to ask about opportunities and policies. Inform your colleagues and administrators about your plans as part of your network and support system building. Provide others with the information they need to fully support you. 

Paving the way through communication with families 

Linked below are some examples of letters to families to inform them of your intentions and plans for the school year. 

 Back to School Letters to Families 

Become familiar with local policies 

 Chicago Public Schools - Supporting Gender Diversity Toolkit

 Chicago Public Schools - Gender Support Plan

What about when others express concerns or raise questions? 

It can be troubling when concerns or objections are expressed to hosting GSAs or to inclusive curriculum. 

 Principles for Responding to Concerns 

 Responding to Concerns - Teaching about Gender 

 Responding to Concerns - Supporting Trans Students 

 This Queer America podcast episode also addresses this topic 

Responding to prejudice and homophobia/transphobia 

How to Debunk Anti-Gay Myths - Southern Poverty Law Center 

Politifact - Why recent "grooming" accusations are not based in fact